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ROLAND  CASHEL 


BY 
CHARLES  LEVER. 


WITH    ILLUSTRATIONS    BY    PHIZ. 


IN   TWO   VOLUMES. 
VOL.  I. 


NEW   YORK 
THE   ATHENAEUM   SOCIETY 


K  *  To  G.  P.  R.  JAMBS,  Esq. 

C^Q  

O 

Dear  James,  —  You,  once  upon  a  time,  dedicated  to  me  a 

I  tale  of  ^ deep  and  thrilling  interest.  Let  me  now  inscribe  to 
^^  you  this  volume  on  the  plea  of  that  classic  authority  who,  in 
^  the  interchange  of  armour,  "  gave  Brass  for  Gold." 
*""  It  is,  however,  far  less  to  repay  the  obligation  of  a  debt  by 
CM  --giving  you  a  "Roland"  —  not  for  your  "Oliver,"  but  your 
>^  0~.  "  Stepmother  "  —  than  for  the  pleasure  of  recording  one  "  Eact " 
^  AJ  in  a  bulky  tome  of  Fiction,  that  I  now  write  your  name  at  the 
^  head  of  this  page,  —  that  fact  being,  the  warm  memory  I 
cherish  of  all  our  pleasant  hours  of  intercourse,  and  the  sincere 
value  I  place  upon  the  honor  of  your  friendship. 

r-i  Yours,  in  all  esteem  and  afifection, 

CHARLES  LEVER. 

Palazzo  Ximenes,  Florence, 
Oct.  20,  1849. 


:^ 


PEEFACE. 


I  FIRST  thought  of  this  story  —  I  should  say  I  planned 
it,  if  the  expression  were  not  misleading  —  when  living 
at  the  Lake  of  Como.  There,  in  a  lovely  little  villa  — 
the  "  Cima "  —  on  the  border  of  the  lake,  with  that 
glorious  blending  of  Alpine  scenery  and  garden-like 
luxuriance  around  me,  and  little  or  none  of  interrup- 
tion or  intercourse,  I  had  abundant  time  to  make  ac- 
quaintance with  my  characters  and  follow  them  into 
innumerable  situations,  and  through  adventures  far 
more  extraordinary  and  exciting  than  I  dared  after- 
wards to  recount. 

I  do  not  know  how  it  may  be  with  other  story-tellers, 
but  I  have  to  own  for  myself  that  the  personages  of  a 
novel  gain  over  at  times  a  degree  of  interest  very  little 
inferior  to  that  inspired  by  living  and  real  people,  and 
that  this  is  especially  the  case  when  I  have  found 
myself  in  some  secluded  spot  and  seeing  little  of  tlie 
world.  To  such  an , ascendancy  has  this  deception  at- 
tained, that  more  than  once  I  have  found  myself  try- 
ing to  explain  why  this  person  should  have  done  that, 
and  by  what  impulse  that  other  was  led  into  something 
else.  In  fact,  I  have  found  that  there  arc  conditions 
of  the  mind  in  which  purely  imaginary  creations  assume 
the  characters  of  actual  people,  and  act  positively  as 


viii  PREFACE. 

though  they  were  independent  of  the  will  that  invented 
them. 

Of  the  strange  manner  in  which  imagination  can  thus 
assume  the  mastery,  and  for  a  while  at  least  have  com- 
mand over  the  mind,  I  cannot  give  a  stronger  instance 
within  my  own  experience  than  the  mode  in  which  this 
story  was  first  conceived. 

When  I  began  I  intended  that  the  action  should  be 
carried  on  in  the  land  where  the  tale  opened.  The 
scene  on  every  side  of  me  had  shed  its  influence,  the 
air  was  weighty  with  the  perfume  of  the  lime  and  the 
orange.  To  days  of  dazzling  brilliancy  there  succeeded 
nights  of  tropical  splendor ;  with  stars  of  almost  pre- 
ternatural magnitude  streaking  the  calm  lake  with  long 
lines  of  light.  To  people  a  scene  like  this  with  the 
sort  of  characters  that  might  befit  it,  was  rather  a 
matter  of  necessity  with  me  than  choice,  and  it  was 
then  that  Maritana  revealed  herself  to  me  with  a  charm 
of  loveliness  I  have  never  been  able  to  repicture.  It 
was  there  I  bethought  me  of  those  passionate  natures 
in  which  climate  and  soil  and  vegetation  reproduce 
themselves,  glowing,  ardent,  and  voluptuous  as  they  are. 
It  was  there  my  fancy  loved  to  stray  among  the  change- 
ful incidents  of  lives  of  wild  adventure  and  wilder  pas- 
sion ;  and  to  imagine  the  strange  discords  that  could  be 
evoked  between  the  traits  of  a  land  that  recalled  Para- 
dise and  the  natures  that  were  only  angelic  in  the  fall. 

I  cannot  trust  to  my  memory  to  remind  me  of  the 
sort  of  tale  I  meaned  to  write.  I  know  there  was  to 
have  been  a  perfect  avalanche  of  adventure  on  land 
and  on  sea.  I  know  that  through  a  stormy  period  of 
daily  peril  and  excitement,  the  traits  of  the  Northern 
temperament  in  Roland  himself  were  to  have  asserted 
their  superiority  over  his  more  impulsive  comrades ;  I 


PREFACE.  ix 

know  he  was  to  have  won  that  girl's  love  against  a 
rivalry  that  set  life  in  the  issue  ;  and  I  have  a  vague 
impression  of  how  such  a  character  might  come  by 
action  and  experience  to  develop  such  traits  as  make 
men  the  rulers  of  their  fellows. 

Several  of  the  situations  occur  to  me,  but  not  a  single 
clew  to  the  story.  There  are  even  now  scenes  before  me 
of  prairie  life  and  lonely  rides  in  passes  of  the  Pampas  ; 
of  homes  where  the  civilized  man  had  never  seen  a 
brother  nor  heard  a  native  tongue.  It  is  in  vain  I 
endeavor  to  recall  anything  like  a  connected  narrative. 
All  that  I  can  well  remember  is  the  great  hold  the  char- 
acters had  taken  in  my  mind ;  how  they  peopled  the 
landscape  around  me,  and  followed  me  wherever  I 
went. 

This  was  in  autumn.  As  winter  drew  nigh  we  moved 
into  an  Italian  city,  much  frequented  by  foreigners,  and 
especially  the  resort  of  our  countrymen.  The  new  life 
of  this  place  and  the  interest  they  excited,  so  totally 
unlike  all  that  I  had  left  at  my  little  villa,  effected  a 
complete  revolution  in  my  thoughts,  utterly  routmg  the 
belief  I  had  indulged  in  as  to  the  characters  of  my  story, 
and  the  incidents  in  which  they  displayed  themselves. 
Up  to  this  all  my  efforts  had  been,  as  it  were,  to  refresh 
my  mind  as  to  a  variety  of  events  and  people  I  had  once 
known,  and  to  try  if  I  could  not  recall  certain  situa- 
tions which  had  interested  me.  Now  the  spell  was 
broken,  all  the  charm  of  the  illusion  gone,  and  I  awoke 
to  the  dreary  consciousness  of  my  creatures  being  mere 
shadows,  and  their  actions  as  unreal  as  themselves. 

There  is  a  sort  of  intellectual  bankruptcy  in  such 
awakenings ;  and  I  know  of  few  things  so  discouraging 
as  this  sudden  revulsion  from  dream-land  to  the  cold 
terra  firma  of  unadorned  fact. 


X  PREFACE. 

There  was  little  in  the  city  we  now  lived  in  to  har- 
monize with  "  romance."  It  was,  in  fact,  all  that 
realism  could  accomplish  with  the  aids  of  every  taste 
and  passion  of  modern  society.  That  this  life  of  present- 
day  dissipation  should  be  enacted  in  scenes  where  every 
palace  and  every  street,  every  monument,  and  indeed 
every  name  recalled  a  glorious  past,  may  not  impossibly 
have  heightened  the  enjoyment  of  the  drama,  but  most 
unquestionably  it  vulgarized  the  actors. 

Instead  of  the  Orinoco  and  its  lands  of  feathery  palms, 
I  had  now  before  me  the  Arno  and  its  gay  crowds  of 
loungers,  the  endless  tide  of  equipages,  and  the  strong 
pulse-beat  of  an  existence  that  even,  in  the  highways  of 
life,  denotes  passion  and  emotion. 

What  I  had  of  a  plan  was  lost  to  me  from  that  hour. 
I  was  again  in  the  whirlpool  of  active  existence,  and 
the  world  around  me  was  deep  —  triple  deep  —  in  all 
cases  of  loving  and  hating,  and  plotting  and  gambling, 
of  intriguing,  countermining,  and  betraying,  as  very 
polite  people  would  know  how  to  do  :  occupations  to 
watch,  which  inspire  an  intensity  of  interest  unknown 
in  any  other  condition  of  existence. 

Out  of  these  impressions  thus  enforced  came  all  the 
characters  of  my  story.  Not  one  was  a  portrait,  though 
in  each  and  all  were  traits  taken  from  life.  If  I  suffered 
myself  on  one  single  occasion  to  amass  too  many  of  the 
characteristics  of  an  individual  into  a  sketch,  it  was  in 
the  picture  of  the  beau  of  Drumcondera;  but  there  I 
was  drawing  from  recollection  and  not  able  to  correct, 
as  I  should  otherwise  have  done,  what  might  seem  too 
close  adherence  to  a  model.  I  have  been  told  that  in 
the  character  of  Linton  I  have  exaggerated  wickedness 
beyond  all  belief.  I  am  sorry  to  reply  that  I  made  but 
a  faint  copy  of  him  who  suggested  that  personage,  and 


PREFACE.  Xi 

who  lives  and  walks  the  stage  of  life  as  I  write.  One  or 
two  persons — not  more  —  who  know  him  whose  traits 
furnished  the  picture,  are  well  aware  that  I  have  neither 
overdrawn  my  sketch,  nor  exaggerated  my  drawing. 

The  Kennyfeck  young  ladies  —  I  am  anxious  to  say 
—  are  not  from  life,  nor  is  Lady  Kilgoff ,  though  I  have 
heard  surmises  to  the  contrary. 

These  are  all  the  explanations  and  excuses  that  occur 

to  me  I  have  to  make  of  this  story.     Its  graver  faults 

are  not  within  the  pale  of  apology  ;  and  for  these  I  only 

ask  indulgence,  —  the  same  indulgence  that  lias  never 

been  denied  me. 

CHARLES  LEVER. 
Trieste.  1872. 


CONTENTS. 


» 

Ghaptbs  Paob 

I.  Don  Pedro's  Guests 1 

II.  A  Challenge  —  and  how  it  Ended     ....  12 

III.  Mr.  Simms  on  Life  at  the  Villa 30 

IV.  The  Kennyfeck  Household 36 

V.  How  Roland  became  Entitled   to   the  God- 
frey Browne  Property 42 

VI.  A  Fracas  in  the  Betting-Ring 46 

VII.  Peeps  Behind  the  Curtain 61 

VIII.  Love  v.  Law •'69 

IX.  An  Exciting  Adventure 82 

X.  The  Coming  Dinner-Party  Discussed     ...  98 

XI.  A  Drive  with  the  Ladies 110 

XII.  The  Great  Kennyfeck  Dinner 123 

XIII.  TUBBER-BEG 145 

XIV.  Mr.  Linton  Reveals  his  Designs   .    .^  .    .    .  163 
XV.  At  the  Gaming  Table 176 

XVI.  What    Roland    Overheard    at    the    Money 

Lender's 188 

XVII.  Scanning  the  Political  Horizon 198 

XVJII.  "Under  the  Green-wood  Tree" 204 

XIX.  The  Domestic  Detective  Consulted      .     .     .  222 

XX.  How     Enrique's      Letter     was     Lost      and 

Found .     .  236 

XXI.  The  Conspirators  Disturbed 244 

XXII.  Visit  to  the  "  Cashel  Picture  Gallery"      .  251 


xlv 


CONTENTS. 


Chapteb  PA0 

XXIII.  Linton  Visits  his  Estate 272 

XXIV.  Breakfast  with  Mr.  Corrigan 279 

XXV.  Tubbermore  Transformed 283 

XXVI.  Bad  Generalship 292 

XXVII.  Lieutenant  Sickleton's  Patent  Pump     .     .  301 

XXVIII.  A  Split  in  the  Kennyfeck  Cabinet    .     .     .  314 

XXIX.  Storm  and  Wreck 324 

XXX.  Miss  Leicester's    Dream  and    its    Fulfil- 
ment        343 

XXXI.  The  Guests  begin  to  Arrive 354 

XXXII.  How  THE  Visitors  Fared 366 

XXXIII.  Roland's  Introduction  to  Mr.  Corrigan    .  373 

XXXIV.  Roland   "  Hears  Something   to   his  Advan- 

tage"      380 

XXXV.  Miss  Jemima  Meek 388 


ROLAND  CASHEL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

DON  Pedro's  guests. 

And  thus  they  lived  ye  merrie  yeare, 

For  they  were  a  jollie  ere  we 
Of  pleasante  laddes  that  knewe  no  feare, 

And  —  as  little  of  honestie  too. 

Ballade  of  Capt.  Pike. 

Our  tale  opens  on  a  gorgeous  night  of  Midsummer,  at  an 
era  so  little  remote  that  to  name  the  precise  year  could 
have  no  interest  for  the  reader,  and  in  a  region  which 
seemed  to  combine  all  that  is  delightful  in  climate  with 
whatever  is  luxuriant  and  splendid  in  vegetation.  It  was 
upon  the  bank  of  a  small  river,  a  tributary  of  the  Oronoco, 
not  very  distant  from  the  picturesque  city  of  Barcelonetta, 
that  a  beautiful  villa  stood,  the  elegance  of  whose  archi- 
tecture and  the  lavish  magnificence  of  whose  decorations 
were  alike  evidence  that  neither  taste  nor  wealth  were 
wanting  to  its  proprietor. 

In  this  land,  where  Nature  had  been  so  prodigal  of  her 
gifts,  the  luxm-ious  appointments  of  this  princely  abode 
seemed  to  partake  of  the  character  of  a  fairy  palace ;  and 
the  admixture  of  objects  of  high  art,  the  treasures  of  Italian 
galleries  and  Spanish  collections,  with  the  more  vivid  reali- 
ties of  the  scene,  favored  this  illusion.  The  fortunate 
owner  of  this  paradise  was  a  certain  Pedro  Rica,  who,  for 
something  like  fourteen  years,  had  been  a  resident  of 
Columbia.     A  widower,  with  an  only  child,  then  an  infant 

VOL.  I.  —  1 


2  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

of  scarce  a  year  old,  he  had  arrived  in  that  country,  seek- 
ing, as  he  said,  by  new  scenes  and  new  associations,  to 
erase,  so  far  as  might  be,  the  painful  memory  of  his  late 
bereavement. 

While  he  gave  it  to  be  understood  that  he  was  a  Spaniard 
by  birth,  some  averred  that  he  was  a  Mexican;  others,  that 
he  was  a  Texan;  and  one  or  two  alleged  that  he  was  an 
American  of  the  States,  —  an  assumption  that  the  ease  and 
fluency  of  his  English  went  far  to  corroborate.  Of  what- 
ever nation  he  came,  certain  it  is  that  a  mystery  hung  over 
both  his  native  laud  and  his  history;  and  as  he  showed 
little  disposition  to  enlighten  the  world  on  these  subjects, 
as  is  usual  in  such  cases,  his  neighbors  took  their  revenge 
by  inventing  a  hundred  stories  about  him,  each  one  only 
worse  than  the  other.  At  one  time  it  was  said  that  his 
wealth  was  acquired  by  piracy;  at  another,  that  he  ab- 
sconded from  a  Texan  city,  with  a  large  sum  belonging  to 
the  government;  forgery,  breach  of  trust,  were  among 
the  commonest  allegations;  and  the  most  charitable  only 
averred  that  he  made  his  money  in  the  slave-trade. 

It  is  but  fair  to  say  that  the  sole  foundation  for  these 
various  rumors  lay  in  the  stern  distance  of  his  manner,  and 
the  cold,  almost  repulsive,  austerity  with  which  he  declined 
all  acquaintance  with  the  neighborhood.  These  traits, 
added  to  the  voluptuous  splendor  of  a  retinue  and  a  style 
of  living  infinitely  above  all  around,  gradually  estranged 
from  him  the  few  who  attempted  to  form  an  intimacy,  and 
left  him  to  live  —  as  it  seemed  he  preferred  —  a  life  of  soli- 
tary magnificence ;  an  object  of  affected  pity  to  many,  but 
of  real  envy  to  all. 

As  his  daughter  grew  up,  he  was  accustomed  to  visit  the 
sea-coast  each  summer  for  some  weeks,  and  from  these 
absences  he  now  usually  returned  with  one  or  two  acquaint- 
ances, for  the  most  part  officers  of  the  Columbian  navy, 
with  whom  he  had  formed  an  intimacy  at  the  seaside. 
Such  acquaintanceship  seemed  to  increase  from  year  to 
year,  till  at  last  each  autumn  saw  the  "Villa  de  las  Noches 
Entretenidas,"  "of  the  pleasant  nights,"  crowded  with 
guests,  whose  wild  orgies  were  in  strange  contrast  to  the 
former  stillness  and  quietude  within  those  walls. 


DON   PEDRO'S   GUESTS.  S 

A  more  motley  and  discordant  assemblage  it  would  be 
hard  to  conceive,  consisting  as  they  did  of  adventurers 
from  every  land  of  Europe,  —  the  wild  and  reckless  outcast 
of  every  clime  and  country,  the  beggared  speculator,  the 
ruined  gambler,  the  duellist  with  blood  upon  his  hand,  the 
defaulter  with  shame  upon  his  forehead;  all  that  good 
morals  reject,  and  the  law  pursues,  mingled  with  others 
whose  faults  went  no  further  than  waste  or  improvidence, 
or  the  more  venial  sin  that  they  came  poor  into  the  world, 
and  were  stamped  "Adventurers"  from  the  cradle. 

A  service  that  never  exercised  too  nice  a  scrutiny  into 
the  habits  of  its  followers,  and  whose  buccaneer  life  had 
all  the  freedom  of  piracy,  with  the  assumption  of  a  recog- 
nized class,  offered  no  mean  attraction  to  the  lover  of  enter- 
prise; and  certainly,  if  the  standard  of  morals  was  low, 
that  of  daring,  reckless  adventure  was  the  very  opposite. 

Amid  this  pleasant  company  we  must  now  ask  pardon  for 
introducing  our  reader,  with  this  saving  assurance,  that  he 
shall  not  have  long  to  commune  with  such  companionship. 
It  was,  as  we  have  said,  a  summer's  night.  A  sky  all  glit- 
tering with  stars  spread  its  dark  blue  canopy  over  a  scene 
where,  amid  the  banana,  the  manioc,  and  the  plantain, 
flowers  of  every  bright  hue  were  blooming,  and  fountains 
gushing ;  while,  through  an  atmosphere  tremulous  with  the 
song  of  the  mocking-bird,  fire-flies  were  glancing  and 
glittering. 

In  the  deep  piazza  before  the  villa  was  now  assembled  a 
numerous  party  of  men  disposed  in  every  attitude  of  loung- 
ing, ease,  and  abandonment;  they  seemed,  though  perhaps 
after  very  different  estimates,  to  be  enjoying  the  delicious 
balm  and  freshness  of  the  night  air.  They  were  of  various 
ages;  and  although  the  greater  number  showed  by  their 
dress  that  they  belonged  to  the  naval  service,  other  signs, 
not  less  distinctive,  pronounced  that  they  were  drawn  from 
classes  of  life  as  varied  as  they  were  numerous;  while, 
here  and  there,  a  caballero  might  be  seen  attired  in  the 
picturesque  costume  of  the  Caraccas,  his  many  colored 
scarf  and  plumed  hat  aiding,  in  no  inconsiderable  degree, 
the  picturesque  effect  of  a  scene  Salvator  might  have 
painted. 


4  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Not  only  beneath  the  piazza  itself,  but  on  the  marble 
steps,  and  even  beneath  them  again,  on  the  close-shaven 
turf,  the  party  lay,  sated  as  it  were  with  splendor,  and 
recruiting  strength  for  new  dissipations.  Some  sat  talking 
in  low  and  whispering  voices,  as  if  unwilling,  even  by  a 
sound,  to  break  the  stilly  calm.  Others,  in  perfect  silence, 
seemed  to  drink  in  the  soothing  influence  of  that  tranquil 
moment,  or  smoked  the  cigarettos  in  dreamy  indolence; 
while  at  intervals,  from  the  leafy  groves,  a  merry  laugh,  or 
the  tinkling  of  a  guitar,  would  mingle  with  the  bubbling 
murmur  of  the  fountains,  making  the  very  stillness  yet 
more  still  as  they  ceased.  Behind  the  piazza,  and  opening 
by  several  large  windows  upon  it,  could  be  seen  a  splendid 
saloon,  resplendent  with  wax-lights,  and  still  displaying 
on  the  loaded  table  the  remnants  of  a  sumptuous  repast, 
amid  which  vessels  of  gold  and  vases  of  flowers  appeared. 
Here,  yet  lingered  two  or  three  guests,  —  spirits  who  set 
no  store  on  an  entertainment  if  it  did  not  degenerate  into 
debauch. 

A  broad  alley,  flanked  by  tall  hedges  of  the  prickly  pear, 
led  from  the  villa  to  a  little  mound,  on  which  a  chestnut- 
tree  stood,  the  patriarch  of  the  wood ;  a  splendid  tree  it 
was,  and  worthy  of  a  better  destiny  than  it  now  fulfilled, 
as,  lighted  up  by  several  lanterns  suspended  from  the 
branches,  it  spread  its  shade  over  a  large  table  where  a 
party  were  playing  at  "Monte." 

Even  without  the  suggestive  aid  of  the  large  heaps  of 
gold  beside  each  player,  and  piled  in  the  middle  of  the 
table,  the  grave  and  steadfast  faces  of  some,  the  excited 
look  of  others,  and  the  painful  intensity  of  interest  in  all, 
,;hovved  that  the  play  was  high.  Still,  although  such  was 
the  case,  and  while  the  players  were  men  whose  hot  blood 
and  reckless  lives  did  but  little  dispose  them  to  put  the 
curb  upon  their  tempers,  not  a  word  was  spoken  aloud ;  nor 
did  a  gesture  or  a  look  betray  the  terrible  vacillations  of 
hope  and  fear  the  changeful  fortune  of  the  game  engen- 
dered. Standing  near  the  table,  but  not  mingling  in  the 
play,  stood  Don  Pedro  himself,  his  sallow  and  melancholy 
features  fixed  upon  the  game,  with  an  expression  that  might 
mean  sorrow  or  deep  anxiety,  it  were  difficult  to  say  which. 


DON  PEDRO'S  GUESTS.  5 

Beside  him,  at  a  small  table  littered  with  papers  and  writ- 
ing materials,  sat  his  steward,  or  intendant,  a  German 
named  Geizheimer,  a  beetle-browed,  white-cheeked,  thick- 
lipped  fellow,  whose  aquiline  features  and  guttural  accents 
told  that  lending  money  at  enormous  interest  was  no  un- 
congenial occupation.  Such  was  his  present,  and  indeed 
almost  his  only  duty;  for,  while  Don  Pedro  seldom  or 
never  played,  gaming  was  the  invariable  occupation  of  the 
guests,  whose  means  to  support  it  were  freely  supplied  by 
the  steward ;  the  borrowers  either  passing  a  simple  note  for 
repayment,  or,  when  the  sum  was  a  heavy  one,  mortgaging 
their  share  in  the  next  prize  they  should  capture.  Other 
contracts,  it  was  rumored,  were  occasionally  resorted  to, 
but  of  such  we  shall  speak  anon. 

At  a  short  distance  from  the  table,  but  sufficiently  near 
to  observe  the  game,  stood  one  on  whom  nothing  short  of 
the  passion  of  play  could  have  prevented  every  eye  being 
bent.  But  so  it  was ;  she  stood  alone  and  unmarked,  while 
all  the  interest  was  concentrated  upon  the  game.  Dressed 
in  a  white  tunic,  or  chemise,  fastened  round  the  waist  by 
a  gold  girdle,  stood  Maritaua  Rica,  her  large  and  lustrous 
black  eyes  eagerly  turned  to  where  two  youths  were  stand- 
ing intensely  occupied  by  the  play.  Her  neck,  arms,  and 
shoulders  were  bare,  in  Mexican  fashion,  and  even  the 
mantilla  she  wore  over  her  head  was  less  as  a  protection 
than  as  a  necessary  accompaniment  of  a  costume  which 
certainly  is  of  the  simplest  kind.  Except  the  chemise,  she 
had  no  other  garment,  save  a  jupe  of  thin  lama-wool,  beau- 
tifully embroidered  and  studded  with  precious  stones;  this 
terminated  below  the  middle  of  the  leg,  displaying  an  ankle 
and  foot  no  Grecian  statue  ever  surpassed  in  beauty. 

Jf  the  deep  brown  of  her  skin  almost  conveyed  the 
reproach  —  and  such  it  is  —  of  Indian  blood,  a  passing 
glance  at  the  delicate  outline  of  her  features,  and,  in  par- 
ticular, of  her  mouth,  at  once  contradicted  the  suspicion. 
The  lips  were  beautifully  arched,  and,  although  plump  and 
rounded,  had  none  of  the  fulness  of  the  degraded  race. 
These  were  now  slightly  parted,  displaying  teeth  of  surpris- 
ing whiteness,  and  imparting  in  the  whole  expression  a 
character  of  speaking  animation.     Although  not   yet   six- 


6  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

teen,  her  figure  had  all  the  graceful  development  of  woman- 
hood, without  having  entirely  lost  a  certain  air  of  fawn-like 
elasticity,  which,  from  time  to  time,  her  gestures  of  im- 
patience displayed. 

The  two  young  men  on  whom  her  interest  seemed  fixed, 
were  playing  in  partnership,  and,  in  their  highly  wrought 
passion,  never  once  looked  up  from  the  board.  One,  some- 
what taller  and  older  by  a  few  years,  appeared  to  exercise 
the  guidance  of  their  play ;  and  it  was  easy  to  see,  in  the 
swollen  and  knotted  veins  of  his  forehead,  in  the  clinched 
hands,  and  in  the  tremulous  lip,  the  passionate  nature  of  a 
confirmed  gambler.  The  younger,  whose  dress  of  green 
velvet,  slashed  and  braided  in  Mexican  taste,  and  whose 
wide-leaved  sombrero  was  decorated  with  a  long  sash  of 
light  blue  silk,  whose  deep  gold  fringe  hung  upon  his 
shoulder,  was  evidently  one  less  enamoured  of  play,  and 
more  than  once  busied  himself  in  arranging  the  details  of 
his  costume,  of  which  he  seemed  somewhat  vain.  It  was 
in  one  of  these  moments  that  his  eyes  met  those  of 
Maritaila  fixed  steadfastly  upon  him,  and,  fascinated  by 
her  unmoved  stare,  he  felt  his  cheek  grow  hot,  and,  whether 
from  a  sense  of  shame  or  a  still  more  tender  motive,  the 
blush  spread  over  his  face  and  forehead.  Maritana  looked 
steadily,  almost  sternly,  at  him,  and  then,  with  a  slight 
toss  of  her  head,  so  slight  that  none  save  he  who  had 
watched  her  intently  could  read  its  scornful  import,  she 
turned  away.  The  youth  did  not  wait  a  moment,  but,  slip- 
ping from  his  place,  followed  along  the  alley  he  had  seen 
her  take. 

He  who  remained,  unconscious  of  his  friend's  departure, 
continued  to  mutter  about  the  chances  of  the  game,  and 
speculate  on  the  amount  he  would  dare  to  hazard.  "She  is 
against  us  every  time,  Roland !  "  said  he,  in  a  low,  half- 
whispering  voice.  "Fortune  will  not  smile,  woo  her  how 
we  may !  Speak,  amigo  mio,  shall  we  risk  all  ?  "  As  he 
spoke,  he  began  counting  the  piles  of  glittering  gold  before 
him,  but  his  hand  trembled,  and  the  pieces  clung  to  his 
moist  fingers,  so  that  he  was  too  late  for  the  deal. 

"Sixteen  hundred,"  muttered  he  to  himself.  "Ten  — 
twenty  —  thirty." 


BON  PEDRO'S  GUESTS.  7 

"The  bank  loses!"  cried  the  croupier,  announcing  the 
game. 

"Loses!"  screamed  the  young  man,  in  an  accent  whose 
piercing  agony  startled  the  whole  board,  — "loses!  because 
it  was  the  only  time  I  had  no  wager.  See,  Roland,  see 
bow  true  it  is;  there  is  a  curse  upon  us."  He  seized  the 
arm  of  the  person  at  his  side,  and  clinched  it  with  a  con- 
vulsive energy  as  he  spoke. 

^^ Saperlote  !  my  young  friend;  you  '11  never  change  luck 
by  tearing  my  old  uniform,"  growled  out  a  rugged-lookiug 
German  skipper,  who,  commanding  a  small  privateer, 
affected  the  rank  and   style  of  a  naval  officer. 

"Oh,  is  it  you,  Hans?"  said  the  youth,  carelessly;  "I 
thought  it  had  been  one  of  our  own  fellows.  Only  think 
the  bank  should  lose,  because  I  made  no  stake;  see  now, 
watch  this.  Halt!"  cried  he  to  the  dealer,  in  a  voice  that 
at  once  arrested  his  hand.  "You  give  one  no  time,  sir,  to 
decide  upon  his  game,"  said  he,  with  a  savage  irascibility, 
v/hich  continued  bad  luck  had  carried  to  the  highest  pitch. 
''  Players  who  risk  their  two  or  three  crowns  may  not  object; 
but,  if  a  man  desires  to  make  a  heavy  stake,  it  is  but  com- 
mon courtesy  to  wait  a  moment.  A  thousand  doubloons, 
the  red  queen  —  fifteen  hundred,"  added  he,  quickly, — 
"fifteen,  and  thirty-five  —  or  eight."  So  saying,  he  pushed 
with  both  hands  the  great  heap  of  gold  pieces  into  the 
middle  of  the  table;  and  then,  with  eyes  bloodshot  and 
glaring,  he  watched  each  card  that  fell  from  the  banker's 
fingers.  When  the  first  row  of  cards  were  dealt,  all  was  in 
his  favor,  and,  as  the  banker  took  up  the  second  pack,  a 
long-suppressed  sigh  broke  from  the  gambler's  bosom.  It 
seemed,  at  length,  as  if  fortune  had  grown  weary  of 
persecuting  him. 

"Come,  Enrique,"  said  a  handsomely  dressed  and  fine- 
looking  man,  who  stood  opposite  to  him,  "luck  has  turned 
at  last;  there  is  nothing  but  the  queen  of  spades  against 
you!" 

As  if  by  some  magic  spell  he  had  called  the  card,  the 
words  were  not  out  when  it  dropped  upon  the  table.  A  cry 
of  mingled  amazement  and  horror  burst  from  the  players, 
whose  natures  would  seem  to  recognize  some  superstitious 


8  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

influence  in  such  marked  casualties.  As  for  Enrique,  he 
stood  perfectly  still  and  silent;  a  horrible  smile,  the  ghastly 
evidence  of  an  hysterical  effort,  sat  upon  his  rigid  features, 
and  at  length  two  or  three  heavy  drops  of  blood  trickled 
from  his  nostril  and  fell  upon  his  shirt. 

"Where's  Roland?"  said  he,  in  a  faint  whisper,  to  a 
young  man  behind  him. 

''I  saw  him  with  Maritana,  walking  towards  the  three 
fountains." 

Enrique's  pallid  cheek  grew  scarlet,  and,  rudely  pushing 
his  way  through  the  crowd,  he  disappeared  from  view. 

"There  goes  a  man  in  a  good  humor  to  board  a  prize," 
said  one  of  the  bystanders,  coolly,  and  the  play  proceeded 
without  a  moment's  interruption. 

With  his  broad-leaved  hat  drawn  down  upon  his  brows, 
and  his  head  sunk  upon  his  bosom,  he  traversed  the  wind- 
ing walks  with  the  step  of  one  who  knew  their  every  turn- 
ing; at  last  he  reached  a  lonely  and  unfrequented  part  of 
the  garden,  where  the  path,  leading  for  some  distance  along 
the  margin  of  a  small  lake,  suddenly  turned  off  towards  a 
flower  terrace,  in  the  midst  of  which  "the  three  fountains  " 
stood. 

Instead  of  taking  the  shortest  way  to  the  spot,  Enrique 
left  the  walk  and  entered  a  grove  of  trees,  through  whose 
thick  shade  he  proceeded  silently  and  cautiously.  The  air 
was  calm  and  motionless,  and  none  save  one  who  had 
received  the  education  of  a  prairie  hunter  could  have  fol- 
lowed that  track  so  noiselessly.  By  degrees  the  wood 
became  open,  and  his  progress  more  circumspect,  when  he 
suddenly  halted. 

Directly  in  front  of  him,  not  twenty  paces  from  where  he 
stood,  was  the  terrace,  over  which,  in  the  stilly  night  air, 
the  fountain  threw  a  light  spray-like  shower,  rustling,  as  it 
fell  upon  the  leaves,  with  a  murmuring  sound.  Lower 
down,  was  a  little  basin  surrounded  by  a  border  of  white 
marble,  and  beside  this  two  figures  were  now  standing, 
whom,  by  the  clear  starlight,  he  could  easily  recognize  to 
be  Roland  and  Maritana. 

The  former,  with  folded  arms,  and  head  bent  down  as  if 
in  thought,   leaned  against  a  tree,    while  Maritana  stood 


DON  PEDRO'S  GUESTS.  9 

beside  the  fountain,  moving  her  foot  to  and  fro  in  the 
clear  water,  and,  as  though  entirely  engrossed  by  her  child- 
ish pastime,  never  bestowed  a  look  upon  her  companion. 
At  last  she  ceased  suddenly,  and  turning  abruptly  round, 
so  as  to  stand  full  in  front  of  him,  said,  "Well,  senhor,  am 
I  to  hope  our  pleasant  interview  is  ended,  or  am  I  still  to 
hear  more  of  your  complaints,  —  those  gentle  remonstrances 
which  sound,  to  my  ears  at  least,  more  wearisome  thau 
words  of  downright  anger?" 

"You  have  not  heard  me  patiently,"  said  the  youth, 
advancing  towards  her,  while  the  slightly  shaken  tones  of 
his  voice  contrasted  strangely  with  the  assured  and  haughty 
accents  in  which  he  spoke. 

"Patiently!"  echoed  she,  with  a  scornful  laugh.  "And 
where  was  this  same  goodly  gift  to  be  learned?  Among 
the  pleasant  company  we  have  quitted,  senhor?  whose 
friendships  of  a  night  are  celebrated  by  a  brawl  on  the 
morrow!  From  the  most  exemplary  crew  of  the  'Esme- 
ralda,' and,  in  particular,  the  worthy  lieutenant,  Don  Roland 
da  Castel,  who,  if  report  speaks  truly,  husbands  the  virtue 
so  rigidly  that  he  cannot  spare  the  smallest  portion  to 
expend  upon  his  friends?" 

"If  my  thrift  had  extended  to  other  matters,"  said  the 
youth,  bitterly,  "mayhap  I  should  not  have  to  listen  to 
language  like  this?" 

"What  say  you,  sir?"  cried  the  girl,  passionately,  as  she 
stamped  upon  the  ground  with  a  gesture  of  violent  anger. 
"  Do  you  affect  to  say  that  it  matters  to  me  whether  you 
stood  there  as  loaded  with  gold  as  on  the  morning  you 
brought  back  that  Mexican  prize,  and  played  the  hero  with 
such  martial  modesty;  or  as  poor  —  as  poor  —  as  bad  luck 
at  cards  can  make  you?  If  I  loved  you,  I  'd  have  as  little 
care  for  one  event  as  the  other!  " 

"You  certainly  thought  more  favorably  of  me  then  than 
now,   Maritaiia!"  said  Roland,   dididently. 

"I  know  not  why  you  say  so!  " 

"At  least  you  accepted  my  hand  in  betrothal  —  " 

"Stay!"  cried  she,  impetuously.  "Did  I  not  tell  you 
then,  before  the  assembled  witnesses  —  before  my  father  — 
what  a  mockery  this  same  ceremony  was-,  that  its  whole 


10  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

aim  and  object  was  to  take  advantage  of  that  disgraceful 
law  that  can  make  an  unmarried  girl  a  widow,  to  inherit 
the  fortune  of  one  she  never  would  have  accepted  as  her 
husband.  Speak,  sir! — and  say,  did  I  not  tell  you  this, 
and  more  too,  that  such  a  bridal  ceremony  brought  little 
fortune  to  the  bridegroom;  for  that  already  I  had  been 
thrice  a  widowed  bride  ?  Nay,  more,  you  heard  me  swear 
as  solemnly,  that  while  I  regarded  the  act  as  one  of  deep 
profanation,  I  felt  in  nowise  bound  by  it.  It  is  idle,  then, 
to  speak  of  our  betrothal!  " 

"It  is  true,  Maritana,  you  said  all  this;  although,  per- 
haps, you  had  not  now  remembered  it,  had  not  some  other 
succeeded  to  that  place  in  your  regard  — " 

"There,  there!"  cried  she,  stopping  him  impatiently. 
"I  will  not  listen  again  to  the  bead-roll  of  your  jealousies. 
People  must  have  loved  very  little,  or  too  much,  to  endure 
that  kind  of  torture.  Besides,  why  tell  me  of  these  things? 
You  are,  they  say,  a  most  accomplished  hunter,  and  can 
answer  me,  —  if,  when  in  chase  of  an  antelope,  a  jaguar 
joins  the  sport,  you  do  not  turn  upon  him  at  once,  the 
worthier  and  nobler  enemy,  and  thus,  as  it  were,  protect 
what  had  been  your  prey." 

The  youth  seemed  stung  to  the  quick  by  this  pitiless 
sarcasm ;  and,  although  he  made  no  reply,  his  hands,  con- 
vulsively clutched,  bespoke  the  torrent  of  agitation  within 
him.  "You  are  right,  Maritana!  "  said  he,  after  a  pause. 
"It  is  idle  to  talk  of  our  betrothal,  — I  release  you." 

"Release  me.'"  said  she,  laughing  contemptuously;  "this 
is  a  task  I  always  perform  for  myself,  senhor,  and  by  the 
shortest  method,  as  thus."  As  she  spoke,  she  struggled  to 
tear  from  her  finger  a  ring  which  resisted  all  her  efforts. 
At  last,  by  a  violent  wrench,  she  succeeded,  and  holding 
it  up  for  a  second,  till  the  large  diamond  glittered  like  a 
star,  she  threw  it  into  the  still  fountain  at  her  feet. 
"There,  amigo  mio,  I  release  you,  —  never  was  freedom 
more  willingly  accorded!  " 

"Never  was  there  a  slave  more  weary  of  his  servitude!  " 
said  the  youth,  bitterly.  "  If  Don  Pedro  Rica  but  tear  his 
accursed  bond,  I  should  feel  myself  my  own  again." 

"He  will  scarce  refuse  you,  sir,  if  the  rumor  be  correct 


DON  PEDRO'S  GUESTS.  11 

that  says  you  have  lost  eleven  thousand  doubloons  at  play. 
The  wealthy  conqueror  stands  on  very  different  ground  from 
the  ruined  gambler.  Go  to  him  at  once!  Ask  back  the 
paper!  Tell  him  you  have  neither  a  heart  nor  a  fortune  to* 
bestow  upon  his  daughter!  That,  as  a  gambler,  fettered 
by  the  lust  for  play,  you  have  lost  all  soul  for  those  hazard- 
ous enterprises  that  win  a  girl's  love  and  a  father's 
consent." 

She  waited  for  a  moment,  that  he  might  reply;  and  then, 
impatient,  perhaps,  at  his  silence,  added,  "I  did  not  think, 
senhor,  you  esteemed  yourself  so  rich  a  prize!  Be  of  good 
cheer,  however!  They  who  are  less  cognizant  of  your 
deserts  will  be  more  eager  to  secure  them." 

With  these  slighting  words  she  turned  away.  Roland 
advanced  as  if  to  follow  her,  but  with  a  contemptuous 
gesture  of  the  hand  she  waved  him  back,  and  he  stood  like 
one  spell-bound,  gazing  after  her,  till  she  disappeared  in 
the  dark  distance. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  CHALLENGE  AND  HOW  IT  ENDED. 

La  Diche  vieiie  quando  no  se  aguarda.  —  Spanish  Proverb. 
(Good  luck  comes  when  it  is  not  looked  for.) 

Roland  looked  for  some  minutes  in  the  direction  by  which 
Maritaiia  had  gone,  and  then,  with  a  sudden  start,  as  if  of 
some  newly  taken  resolve,  took  the  path  towards  the  villa. 
He  had  not  gone  far  when,  at  the  turn  of  the  way,  he  came 
An  front  of  Enrique,  who,  with  hasty  steps,  was  advancing 
towards  him. 

"Lost,  everything  lost!  "  exclaimed  the  latter,  with  a 
mournful  gesture  of  his  hands. 

"All  gone!  "  cried  Roland. 

"Every  crown  in  the  world!  " 

"Be  it  so;  there  is  an  end  of  gambling,  at  least!  " 

"You  bear  your  losses  nobly,  senhor!  "  said  Enrique, 
sneeringly;  "and,  before  a  fitting  audience,  might  claim 
the  merit  of  an  accomplished  gamester.  I  am,  however, 
most  unworthy  to  witness  such  fine  philosophy.  I  recognize 
in  beggary  nothing  but  disgrace!" 

"Bear  it,  then,  and  the  whole  load,  too!"  said  Roland, 
sneeringly.  "To  your  solicitations  only  I  yielded  in  tak- 
ing my  place  at  that  accursed  table.  I  had  neither  a  pas- 
sion for  play,  nor  the  lust  for  money-getting;  you  thought 
to  teach  me  both,  and,  peradventure,  you  have  made  me 
despise  them  more  than  ever." 

"What  a  moralist!  "  cried  Enrique,  laughing  insolently, 
"who  discovers  that  he  has  cared  neither  for  his  mistress 
nor  his  money  till  he  has  lost  both." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  said  Roland,  trembling  with 
passion. 


A  CHALLENGE.  13 

"I  never  speak  in  riddles,"  was  the  cool  reply. 

''This,  then,  is  meant  as  insult,"  said  Roland,  approach- 
ing closer,  and  speaking  in  a  still  lower  voice;  "or  is  it 
merely  the  passion  of  a  disappointed  gambler?" 

"And  if  it  were,  amigo  mio^'*  retorted  the  other,  "what 
more  fitting  stake  to  set  against  the  anger  of  a  rejected 
lover?" 

"Be  it  so!"  cried  Roland,  fiercely;  "you  never  caught 
up  a  man  more  disposed  to  indulge  your  humor.  Shall  it 
be  now  ?  " 

"Could  not  so  much  courage  keep  warm  till  daylight?" 
said  Enrique,  calmly.  "Below  the  fountains  there  is  a 
very  quiet  spot." 

"At  sunrise?  " 

"At  sunrise,"  echoed  Enrique,  bowing  with  affected 
courtesy,  till  the  streamers  from  his  hat  touched  the 
ground. 

"Now  for  my  worthy  father-in-law  elect,"  said  Roland; 
"and  to  see  him  before  he  may  hear  of  this  business,  or  I 
may  find  it  difficult  to  obtain  my  divorce."  When  the 
youth  arrived  at  the  villa,  the  party  were  assembled  at 
supper.  The  great  saloon,  crowded  with  guests  and  hurry- 
ing menials,  was  a  scene  of  joyous  but  reckless  convivi- 
ality, the  loud  laughter  and  the  louder  voices  of  the  company 
striking  on  Roland's  ear  with  a  grating  discordance  he  had 
never  experienced  before.  The  sounds  of  that  festivity  he 
had  been  wont  to  recognize  as  the  pleasant  evidence  of  free 
and  high-souled  enjoyment,  now  jarred  heavily  on  his 
senses,  and  he  wondered  within  himself  how  long  he  had 
lived  in  such  companionship. 

Well  knowing  that  the  supper-party  would  not  remain 
long  at  table,  while  high  play  continued  to  have  its  hold 
upon  the  guests,  he  strolled  into  one  of  the  shady  alleys, 
watching  from  time  to  time  for  the  breaking  up  of  the 
entertainment.  At  last  some  two  or  three  arose,  and,  pre- 
ceded by  servants  with  lighted  flambeaux,  took  the  way 
towards  the  gaming-table.  They  were  speedily  followed 
by  others,  so  that  in  a  brief  space  —  except  by  the  usual 
group  of  hard-drinking  souls,  who  ventured  upon  no  stake 
save  that  of  health  —  the  room  was  deserted. 

He  looked  eagerly  for  Don  Pedro,  but  could  not  see  him, 


14  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

as  it  was  occasionally  his  practice  to  retire  to  his  library 
long  before  his  guests  sought  their  repose.  Roland  made  a 
circuit  of  the  villa,  and  soon  came  to  the  door  of  this  apart- 
ment, which  led  into  a  small  flower-garden.  Tapping 
gently  here,  he  received  a  summons  to  enter,  and  found 
himself  before  Don  Pedro,  who,  seated  before  a  table, 
appeared  deeply  immersed   in  matters  of  business. 

Roland  did  not  need  the  cold  and  almost  stern  reception 
of  his  host  to  make  him  feel  his  intrusion  very  painfully; 
and  he  hastened  to  express  his  extreme  regret  that  he  should 
be  compelled  by  any  circumstances  to  trespass  on  leisure 
so  evidently  destined  for  privacy.  "But  a  few  moments' 
patient  hearing,"  continued  he,  "will  show  that,  to  me  at 
least,  the  object  of  this  visit  did  not  admit  of  delay." 

"Be  seated,  senhor;  and,  if  I  may  ask  it  without  in- 
civility, be  brief,  for  I  have  weighty  matters  before  me." 

"I  will  endeavor  to  be  so,"  said  Roland,  civilly,  and 
resumed:  "This  evening,  Don  Pedro,  has  seen  the  last  of 
twenty-eight  thousand  Spanish  dollars,  which,  five  weeks 
since,  I  carried  here  along  with  me.  They  were  my  share, 
as  commander  of  the  'Esmeralda,'  when  she  captured  a 
Mexican  bark,  in  May  last.  They  were  won  with  hard 
blows  and  some  danger;  they  were  squandered  in  disgrace 
at  the  gaming-table." 

"Forgive  me," said  Don  Pedro:  "you  can  scarcely  adhere 
to  your  pledge  of  brevity  if  you  permit  yourself  to  be  led 
away  by  moralizing;  just  say  how  this  event  concerns  me, 
and  wherefore  the  present  visit." 

Roland  became  red  with  anger  and  shame,  and  when  he 
resumed  it  was  in  a  voice  tremulous  with  ill-suppressed 
passion.  "I  did  not  come  here  for  your  sympathy,  senhor. 
If  the  circumstance  T  have  mentioned  had  no  relation  to 
yourself,  you  had  not  seen  me  here.  I  say  that  I  have  now 
lost  all  that  I  was  possessed  of  in  the  world." 

"Again  I  must  interrupt  you,  Senhor  Roland,  by  saying 
that  these  are  details  for  Geizheimer,  not  for  me.  He,  as 
you  well  know,  transacts  all  matters  of  money,  and  if  you 
desire  a  loan,  or  are  in  want  of  any  immediate  assistance, 
I  'm  sure  you  '11  find  him  in  every  way  disposed  to  meet 
your  wishes." 

"Thanks,  senhor,  but  T  am  not  inclined  for  such  aid.     I 


A  CHALLENGE.  15 

will  neither  mortgage  my  blood  nor  my  courage,  nor  prom- 
ise three  hundred  per  cent  for  the  means  of  a  night  at  the 
gambling-table." 

^'Then  pray,  sir,  how  am  I  to  understand  your  visit?  Is 
it  intended  for  the  sake  of  retailing  to  me  your  want  of 
fortune  at  play,  and  charging  me  with  the  results  of  your 
want  of  skill  or  luck  ? " 

"Far  from  it,  senhor.  It  is  simply  to  make  known  that 
I  am  ruined ;  that  I  have  nothing  left  me  in  the  world ;  and 
that,  as  one  whose  fortune  has  deserted  him,  I  have  come 
to  ask  back  that  bond  by  which  I  accepted  your  daughter's 
hand  in  betrothal." 

A  burst  of  laughter  from  Don  Pedro  here  stopped  the 
speaker,  who,  with  flushed  cheek  and  glaring  eyeballs, 
stared  at  this  sudden  outbreak.  "Do  you  know  for  what 
you  ask  me,  senhor?  "  said  Eica,  smiling  insolently. 

"Yes,  I  ask  for  what  3^ou  never  could  think  to  enforce,  — 
to  make  me,  a  beggar,  the  husband  of  your  daughter." 

"Most  true;  I  never  thought  of  such  an  alliance.  I 
believe  you  were  told  that  Columbian  law  gives  these  con- 
tracts the  force  of  a  legal  claim,  in  the  event  of  survivor- 
ship; and  you  flattered  yourself,  perhaps  too  hastily,  that 
other  ties  more  binding  still  might  grow  from  it.  If 
Fortune  was  as  fickle  with  you  here  as  at  the  card-table, 
the  fault  is  not  in  me." 

"But  of  what  avail  is  it  now?"  said  Roland,  passion- 
ately. "If  I  died  to-morrow,  there  is  not  sufficient  sub- 
stance left  to  buy  a  suit  of  mourning  for  my  poor  widow." 

"She  could,  perhaps,  dispense  with  outward  grief,"  said 
Pedro,   sneeringly. 

"I  say  again,"  cried  Roland,  with  increased  agitation, 
"  this  bond  is  not  worth  the  paper  it  is  written  on.  I  leave 
the  service;  I  sail  into  another  latitude,  and  it  is  invalid, 
—  a  mere  mockery !  " 

"Not  so  fast,  sir,"  said  Pedro,  slowly:  "there  is  a 
redeeming  clause,  by  which  you,  on  paying  seventy  thou- 
sand doubloons,  are  released  of  3^our  contract,  with  my  con- 
currence. Mark  that  well,  —  with  my  concurrence  it  must 
be.  Now,  I  have  the  opinion  of  learned  counsel,  in  coun- 
tries where   mayhap   your   adventurous  fancy  has    already 


16  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

carried  you,  that  this  clause  embraces  the  option  which  side 
of  the  contract  I  should  desire  to  enforce." 

"Such  may  be  your  law  here;  I  can  have  little  doubt  that 
any  infamy  may  pass  for  justice  in  this  favored  region," 
said  Roland;  "but  I  '11  never  believe  that  so  base  a  judg- 
ment could  be  uttered  where  civilization  prevails.  At  all 
events,  I  '11  try  the  case.  I  now  tell  you  frankly,  that,  to- 
morrow, I  mean  to  resign  my  rank  and  commission  in  this 
service;  I  mean  to  quit  this  country,  with  no  intention  ever 
to  revisit  it.  If  you  still  choose  to  retain  a  contract  whose 
illegality  needs  no  stronger  proof  than  that  it  affects  to 
bind  one  party  only,  I  '11  not  waste  further  time  by  thinking 
of  it." 

"I  will  keep  it,  senhor,"  interrupted  Pedro,  calmly.  "I 
knew  a  youth,  once,  who  had  as  humble  an  opinion  of  his 
fortunes  as  you  have  now;  and  yet  he  died,  — not  in  this 
service,  indeed,  but  in  these  seas,  —  and  his  fortune  well 
requited  the  trouble  of  its  claimant." 

"I  have  no  right  to  trespass  longer  on  you,  sir,"  said 
Roland,  bowing.  *'  I  wish  I  could  thank  you  for  all  your 
hospitality  to  me  with  a  more  fitting  courtesy;  I  must  con- 
fess myself  your  debtor  without  hope  of  repayment." 

"Have  you  signified  to  Don  Gomez  Noronja  your  inten- 
tion to  resign?  " 

"I  shall  do  it  within  half  an  hour." 

"You  forget  that  your  resignation  must  be  accepted  by 
the  Minister;  that  no  peremptory  permission  can  be  ac- 
corded by  a  captain  in  commission,  save  under  a  guarantee 
of  ten  thousand  crowns  for  a  captain,  and  seven  for  a  lieu- 
tenant, the  sum  to  be  estreated  if  the  individual  quit  the 
service  without  leave.  This,  at  least,  is  law  you  cannot 
dispute." 

Roland  hung  down  his  head,  thunderstruck  by  an  an- 
nouncement which,  at  one  swoop,  dashed  away  all  his 
hopes.  As  he  stood  silent  and  overwhelmed,  Don  Pedro 
continued,  "You  see,  sir,  that  the  service  knows  how  to 
value  its  oflficers,  even  when  they  set  little  store  by  the  ser- 
vice. Knowing  that  young  men  are  fickle  and  fanciful, 
with  caprices  that  carry  them  faster  than  sound  judgment, 
they  have  made  the  enactment  I  speak  of.     And,  even  were 


A  CHALLENGE.  17 

you  to  give  the  preliminary  notice,  where  will  you  be  when 
the  time  expires?  In  what  parallel  south  of  Cape  Horn? 
Among  the  islands  of  the  Southern  Pacific;  perhaps  upon 
the  coast  of  Africa?  No,  no;  take  my  advice:  do  not 
abandon  your  career;  it  is  one  in  which  you  have  already 
won  distinction.  Losses  at  play  are  easily  repaired  in 
these  seas.     Our  navy  —  " 

''Is  nothing  better  than  a  system  of  piracy!  "  broke  in 
Koland,  savagely.  "So  long  as,  in  ignorance  of  its  real 
character,  I  walked  beneath  your  flag,  the  heaviest  crime 
which  could  be  imputed  to  me  was  but  the  folly  of  a  rash- 
brained  boy.  I  feel  that  I  know  better  now;  I'll  serve 
under  it  no  more." 

"  Dangerous  words,  these,  senhor,  if  reported  in  the  quar- 
ter where  they  would  be  noticed." 

Roland  turned  an  indignant  glance  at  him  as  he  uttered 
this  threat,  and  with  an  expression  so  full  of  passion  that 
Rica,  for  a  few  seconds,  seemed  to  feel  that  he  had  gone 
too  far.  "I  did  but  suggest  caution,  senhor,"  said  he, 
timidly. 

"Take  care  that  you  practise  as  well  as  preach  the  habit," 
muttered  Roland,  "or  you'll  find  that  you  have  exploded 
your  own  mine." 

This,  which  he  uttered  as  he  left  the  room,  was  in  reality 
nothing  more  than  a  vague  menace ;  but  it  was  understood 
in  a  very  different  sense  by  Pedro,  who  stood  pale  and 
trembling  with  agitation,  gazing  at  the  door  by  which  the 
youth  departed.  At  last  he  moved  forward,  and  opening 
it,  called  out,  "Senhor  Roland!  Roland,  come  back!  Let 
me  speak  to  you  again."  But  already  he  was  far  beyond 
hearing,  as  with  all  his  speed  he  hastened  down  the  alley. 

Don  Pedro's  resolves  were  soon  formed;  he  rang  his  bell 
at  once,  and,  summoning  a  servant,  asked  if  Don  Gomez 
Noronja  was  still  at  table? 

"He  has  retired  to  his  room,  senhor,"  was  the  reply. 

A  few  moments  after,  Rica  entered  the  chamber  of  his 
guest,  where  he  remained  in  close  conversation  till  nigh 
daybreak.  As  he  reached  his  own  apartment  the  sound  of 
horses'  feet  and  carriage  wheels  was  heard  upon  the  gravel, 
and,  throwing  up  the  window,  Rica  called  out,  — 

VOL.  I.  —  2 


18  KOLAND   CASHEL. 

"Is  that  Don  Enrique?" 

"Yes,  senhor,  taking  French  leave,  as  you  would  call  it. 
A  bad  return  for  a  Spanish  welcome;  but  duty  leaves  no 
alternative." 

•'  Are  you  for  the  coast,  then  ?  " 

"With  all  speed.  Our  captain  received  important 
despatches  in  the  night.  We  shall  be  afloat  before  forty 
hours.     Adios!" 

The  farewell  was  cordially  re-echoed  by  Rica,  who  closed 
the  window,  muttering  to  himself,  "So!  all  will  go  well  at 
last." 

While  Enrique  was  making  all  the  speed  towards  the  sea- 
shore a  light  caleche  and  four  horses  could  accomplish, 
Roland  was  pacing  with  impatient  steps  the  little  plot  of 
grass  where  so  soon  he  expected  to  find  himself  in  deadly 
conflict  with  his  enemy. 

Never  was  a  man's  mind  more  suited  to  the  purpose  for 
which  he  waited.  Dejected,  insulted,  and  ruined  in  one 
night,  he  had  little  to  live  for,  and  felt  far  less  eager  to  be 
revenged  of  his  adversary,  than  to  rid  himself  of  a  hated 
existence.  It  was  to  no  purpose  that  he  could  say,  and  say 
truly,  that  he  had  never  cared  for  any  of  these  things,  of 
which  he  now  saw  himself  stripped.  His  liking  for  Mari- 
tana  had  never  gone  beyond  great  admiration  for  her 
beauty,  and  a  certain  spiteful  pleasure  in  exciting  those 
bursts  of  passion  over  which  she  exercised  not  the  slightest 
control.  It  was  caprice,  not  love;  the  delight  of  a  school- 
boy in  the  power  to  torment,  without  the  wish  to  retain. 
His  self-love,  then,  it  was,  was  wounded  on  finding  that 
she,  with  whose  temper  he  had  sported,  could  turn  so  ter- 
ribly upon  himself.  The  same  feeling  was  outraged  by 
Enrique,  who  seemed  to  know  and  exult  over  his  defeat. 
These  sources  of  bitterness,  being  all  aggravated  by  the 
insulting  manner  of  Don  Pedro,  made  up  a  mass  of  indig- 
nant and  angry  feelings  which  warred  and  goaded  him 
almost  to  madness. 

The  long-expected  dawn  broke  slowly,  and  although,  a 
few  moments  after  sunrise,  the  whole  sky  became  of  a  rich 
rose  color,  these  few  moments  seemed  like  an  age  to  the 
impatient  thoughts  of  him  who  thirsted  for  his  vengeance. 


A  CHALLENGE.  19 

He  walked  hastily  up  and  down  the  space,  waiting  now 
and  again  to  listen,  and  then,  disappointed,  resumed  his 
path,  with  some  gesture  of  impatience.  At  last  he  heard 
footsteps  approaching.  They  came  nearer  and  nearer;  and 
now  he  could  hear  the  branches  of  the  trees  bend  and  crack, 
as  some  one  forced  a  passage  through  them.  A  swelling 
feeling  about  the  heart  bespoke  the  anxiety  with  which  he 
listened,  when  a  figure  appeared  which  even  at  a  glance  he 
knew  to  be  not  Enrique's.  As  the  man  approached  he  took 
off  his  hat  respectfully  and  presented  a  letter. 

"  From  Don  Enrique  ?  "  said  Roland,  and  then,  tearing 
open  the  paper,  he  read,  — 

Amigo  Mio,  —  Not  mine  the  fault  that  I  do  not  stand  before  you 
now  instead  of  these  few  lines ;  but  Noronja  has  received  news  of 
these  Chilian  fellows,  and  sent  me  to  get  the  craft  ready  for  sea 
at  once.  We  shall  meet,  then,  in  a  few  hours  ;  and,  if  so,  let  it  be  as 
comrades.  The  service  and  our  own  rules  forbid  a  duel  so  long  as 
we  are  afloat  and  on  duty.  Whatever  be  your  humor  when  next  we 
touch  shore  again,  rely  upon  finding  me  ready  to  meet  it,  either  as 
an  enemy  or  as 

Your  friend, 

Enrique  da  Cordova. 

A  single  exclamation  of  disappointment  broke  from 
Roland,  but  the  moment  after  all  former  anger  was  gone. 
The  old  spirit  of  comrade-affection  began  to  seek  its  accus- 
tomed channels,  and  he  left  the  spot,  happy  to  think  how 
different  had  been  his  feeling  than  if  he  were  quitting  it 
with  the  blood  of  his  shipmate  on  his  hands. 

Although  he  now  saw  that  his  continuance  in  the  service 
for  the  present  was  inevitable,  he  had  fully  made  up  his 
mind  to  leave  it,  and,  with  it,  habits  of  life  whose  low 
excesses  had  now  become  intolerable.  So  long  as  the  spirit 
of  adventure  and  daring  sustained  him,  so  long  the  respite 
of  a  few  months'  shore  life  was  a  season  of  pleasure  and 
delight;  but  as  by  degrees  the  real  character  of  his  asso- 
ciates became  clearer,  and  he  saw  in  them  men  who  cared 
for  enterprise  no  further  than  for  its  gain,  and  calculated 
each  hazardous  exploit  by  its  profit,  he  felt  that  he  was  now 
following  the  career  of  a  bravo  who  hires  out  his  arm  and 


20  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

sells  his  courage.  This  revolted  every  sentiment  of  his 
mind,  and,  come  what  would,  he  resolved  to  abandon  it.  In 
these  day-dreams  of  a  new  existence  the  memory  of  two 
years  passed  in  the  Pampas  constantly  mingled,  and  he 
could  not  help  contrasting  the  happy  and  healthful  content- 
ment of  the  simple  hunter  with  the  voluptuous  but  cankered 
pleasures  of  the  wealthy  buccaneer.  Once  more  beneath 
the  wooded  shades  of  the  tall  banana,  he  thought  how  free 
and  peaceful  his  days  would  glide  by,  free  from  the  rude 
conflicts  he  now  witnessed,  and  the  miserable  jealousies 
of  these  ill-assorted  companionships.  For  some  hours  he 
wandered,  revolving  thoughts  like  these;  and  at  length 
turned  his  steps  towards  the  villa,  determined,  so  long  as 
his  captain  remained,  that  he  would  take  up  his  quarters  at 
Barcelonetta,  nor  in  future  accept  of  the  hospitality  of  Don 
Rica's  house.  With  this  intention  he  was  returning  to 
arrange  for  the  removal  of  his  luggage,  when  his  attention 
was  excited  by  the  loud  cracking  of  whips,  and  the  shrill 
cries  that  accompanied  the  sounds  of  "The  post!  the 
post!" 

In  a  moment  every  window  of  the  villa  was  thrown  open, 
and  heads,  in  every  species  of  night-gear,  and  every  stage 
of  sleepy  astonishment,  thrust  out;  for  the  post,  be  it 
observed,  was  but  a  monthly  phenomenon,  and  the  arrival 
of  letters  was  very  often  the  signal  for  a  total  break-up  of 
the  whole  household. 

The  long  wagon,  drawn  by  four  black  mules,  and  driven 
by  a  fellow  whose  wide-tasselled  sombrero  and  long 
moustaches  seemed  to  savor  more  of  the  character  of  a 
melodrama  than  real  life,  stopped  before  the  chief  entrance 
of  the  villa,  and  was  immediately  surrounded  by  the  guests, 
whose  hurried  wardrobe  could  only  be  excused  in  so  mild 
a  climate. 

^'Anything  for  me,  Truxillo?"  cried  one,  holding  up  a 
dollar  temptingly  between  finger  and  thumb. 

*' Where  are  my  cigarettos?" 

"And  my  mantle?  " 

*'And  my  gun?  " 

"And  the  senhora's  embroidered  slippers?"  cried  a  maid, 
as  she  ransacked  every  corner  where  the  packages  lay. 


A  CHALLENGE.  21 

The  driver,  however,  paid  little  attention  to  these  various 
demands,  but,  loosening  the  bridles  of  his  beasts,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  wash  their  mouths  with  some  water  fetched  from 
the  fountain,  coolly  telling  the  applicants  that  they  might 
help  themselves,  only  to  spare  something  for  the  people 
of  Barcelonetta,  for  he  knew  there  was  a  letter  or  two  for 
that  place. 

"What  have  we  here?"  cried  one  of  the  guests,  as  a 
mass  of  something  enveloped  in  a  horse-sheet  lay  rolled  up 
in  the  foot  of  the  caleche,  where  the  driver  sat. 

"Ah,  par  Dios!  "  cried  the  man,  laughing,  "I  had  nearly 
forgotten  that  fellow.  He  is  asleep,  poor  devil!  He 
nearly  died  of  cold  in  the  night!  " 

"Who  is  he  —  what  is  he?  " 

"A  traveller  from  beyond  San  Luis  in  search  of  Don 
Pedro." 

"Of  me?"  said  Don  Pedro,  whose  agitation  became,  in 
spite  of  all  his  efforts,  visible  to  every  oncj  at  the  same 
instant  that,  pulling  back  the  cloak  rudely,  he  gazed  at  the 
sleeping  stranger,  —  "I  never  saw  him  before." 

"Come,  awake  —  stir  up,  senhor!  "  said  the  driver,  pok- 
ing the  passenger  very  unceremoniously  with  his  whip. 
"We  are  arrived;  this  is  the  Villa  de  las  Noches  Entre- 
tenidas;  here  is   Don  Pedro  himself!" 

"The  Lord  be  praised!"  said  a  short,  round-faced  little 
man,  who,  with  a  nightcap  drawn  over  his  ears,  and  a  huge 
cravat  enveloping  his  chin,  now  struggled  to  look  around 
him.  "At  last!  "  sighed  he;  "I  'm  sure  I  almost  gave  up 
all  hope  of  it."  These  words  were  spoken  in  English, 
but  even  that  evidence  was  not  necessary  to  show  that  the 
little  plump  figure  in  drab  gaiters  and  shorts  was  not  a 
Spaniard. 

"Are  you  Don  Peter,  sir,  — are  you  really  Don  Peter?" 
said  he,  rubbing  his  eyes,  and  looking  hurriedly  around  to 
assure  himself  he  was  not  dreaming. 

"What  is  your  business  with  me  —  or  have  you  any?" 
said  Rica,  in  a  voice  barely  above  a  whisper. 

"Have  I!  —  Did  I  come  six  thousand  miles  in  search  of 
you?  Oh,  dear!  oh,  dear!  I  can  scarcely  think  it  all  over, 
even  now.  But  still  there  may  be  nothing  done  if  he  is  n't 
here." 


22  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"What  do  you  mean?  "  said  Rica,  impatiently. 

"Mr.  Roland  Cashel;  Roland  Cashel,  Esq.,  I  should  call 
him  now,  sir." 

"That's  my  name!"  said  the  youth,  forcing  his  way 
through  the  crowd,  and  standing  in  front  of  the  traveller. 

The  little  man  put  his  hand  into  a  breast-pocket,  and 
drew  out  a  little  book,  opening  which  he  began  to  read, 
comparing  the  detail,  as  he  went  on,  with  the  object  before 
him:  — 

"Six  foot  and  an  inch  in  height,  at  least,  olive-brown 
complexion,  dark  eyes  and  hair,  straight  nose,  short  upper 
lip,  frowns  slightly  when  he  speaks ;  —  just  talk  a  little, 
will  you?  " 

Cashel  could  not  help  smiling  at  the  request;  when  the 
other  added,  "Shows  his  teeth  greatly  when  he  laughs." 

"Am  I  a  runaway  negro  from  New  Orleans  that  you  have 
taken  my  portrait  so  accurately,  sir?" 

"Got  that  at  Demerara,"  said  the  little  man,  putting  up 
the  book,  "and  must  say  it  was  very  near  indeed!  " 

"I  have  been  at  Demerara,"  said  Cashel,  hoping  by  the 
admission  to  obtain  some  further  insight  into  the  travel- 
ler's intentions. 

"I  know  that,"  said  the  little  man.  "I  tracked  you 
thence  to  St.  Kitts,  then  to  Antigua.  I  lost  you  there,  but 
I  got  up  the  scent  again  in  Honduras,  but  only  for  a  short 
time,  and  had  to  try  Demerara  again ;  then  I  dodged  down 
the  coast  by  Pernambuco,  but  lost  you  entirely  in  June,  — 
some  damned  Indian  expedition,  I  believe.  But  I  met  a 
fellow  at  New  Orleans  who  had  seen  you  at  St.  Louis,  and 
so  I  tracked  away  south  —  " 

"And,  in  one  word,  having  found  me,  what  was  the 
cause  of  so  much  solicitude,  sir?"  said  Cashel,  who  felt  by 
no  means  comfortable  at  such  a  hot  and  unwearied  pursuit. 
"This  can  all  be  better  said  in  the  house,"  interposed 
Don  Rica,  who,  relieved  of  any  uneasiness  on  his  own  ac- 
count, had  suddenly  resumed  his  habitual  quiet  demeanor. 

"So  I  'm  thinking  too!  "  said  the  traveller;  "but  let  me 
first  land  my  portmanteau;  all  the  papers  are  there.  I 
have  not  lost  sight  of  it  since  I  started." 

The  parcels  were  carefully  renjoyed  under  bis  Qwn  inspec- 


A  CHALLENGE.  ^S 

tion,  and,  accompanied  by  Don  Pedro  Rica  and  Roland,  the 
little  man  entered  the  villa. 

There  could  be  no  greater  contrast  than  that  between  the 
calm  and  placid  bearing  Don  Pedro  had  now  assumed,  and 
the  agitated  and  anxious  appearance  which  Cashel  ex- 
hibited. The  very  last  interview  he  had  sustained  in  that 
same  spot  still  dwelt  upon  his  mind;  and  when  he  declined 
Don  Pedro's  polite  request  to  be  seated,  and  stood  with 
folded  arms  before  the  table,  which  the  traveller  had  now 
covered  with  his  papers,  a  prisoner  awaiting  the  words  of 
his  judgment  could  not  have  endured  a  more  intense  feeling 
of  anxiety. 

"  'Roland  Cashel,  born  in  York,  a.  d.  18 — ,  son  of 
Godfrey  Cashel  and  Sarah,  his  wife,'  "  read  the  little  man; 
then  murmured  to  himself,  "  Certificate  of  baptism,  signed 
by  Joshua  Gorgeous,  Prebendary  of  the  Cathedral;  all 
right,  so  far.  Now  we  come  to  the  wanderings.  Your 
father  was  quartered  at  Port-au-Prince,  in  the  year  18 — ,  I 
believe?  " 

"He  was.     I  was  then  nine  years  old,"  said  Cashel. 

"Quite  correct;  he  died  there,  I  understand?  " 

Cashel  assented  by  a  nod. 

"Upon  which  event  you  joined,  or  was  supposed  to  join, 
the  '  Brown  Peg, '  a  sloop  in  the  African  trade,  wrecked  off 
Fernando  Po  same  winter?  " 

"Yes;  she  was  scuttled  by  the  second  mate,  in  a  mutiny. 
But  what  has  all  this  secret  history  of  me  to  mean?  Did 
you  come  here,  sir,  to  glean  particulars  to  write  my  life  and 
adventures  ?  " 

"I  crave  your  pardon  most  humbly,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said 
the  little  man,  in  a  perfect  agony  of  humiliation.  "I  was 
only  recapitulating  a  few  collateral  circumstances,  by  way 
of  proof.     I  was,  so  to  say,  testing  —  that  is,  I  was  —  " 

"Satisfying  yourself  as  to  this  gentleman's  identity," 
added  Don  Pedro. 

"Exactly  so,  sir;  the  very  words  upon  the  tip  of  my 
tongue,  —  satisfying  myself  that  you  were  the  individual 
alluded  to  here  "  —  as  he  spoke,  he  drew  forth  a  copy  of 
the  "Times "  newspaper,  whose  well-worn  and  much- 
thumbed    edges    bespoke    frequent    reference  —  "  in    this 


24  ROLAND  CASHeL. 

advertisement,"  said  he,  handing  the  paper  to  Don  Pedro, 
who  at  once  read  aloud,  — 

"  Reward  of  £500.  —  Any  person  giving  such  information  as  may 
lead  to  the  discovery  of  a  young  gentleman  named  Roland  Cashel, 
who  served  for  some  years  on  board  of  various  merchant  vessels 
in  the  Levant,  the  African,  and  the  West  India  trade,  and  was  seen 
in  New  Orleans  in  the  autumn  of  18 — ,  will  receive  the  above  reward. 
He  was  last  heard  of  in  Mexico,  but  it  is  believed  that  he  has  since 
entered  the  Chilian  or  Columbian  service.  He  is  well  known  in 
the  Spanish  Main,  and  in  many  of  the  cities  on  the  coast,  as  the 
Caballero." 

Cashel's  face  was  one  burning  surface  of  scarlet  as  he 
heard  the  words  of  an  advertisement  which,  in  his  ideas,  at 
once  associated  him  with  runaway  negroes  and  escaped 
felons;  and  it  was  with  something  like  suffocation  that  he 
restrained  his  temper  as  he  asked  why,  and  by  whose 
authority,   he  was  thus  described? 

The  little  man  looked  amazed  and  confounded  at  a  ques- 
tion which,  it  would  seem,  he  believed  his  information  had 
long  since  anticipated. 

"Mr.  Cashel  wishes  to  know  the  object  of  this  inquiry,  — 
who  sent  you  hither,  in  fact,"  said  Don  Rica,  beginning 
himself  to  lose  patience  at  the  slowness  of  the  stranger's 
apprehension. 

"Mr.  Kennyfeck,  of  Dublin,  the  law  agent,  sent  me." 

"Upon  what  grounds,  — with  what  purpose?" 

"To  tell  him  that  the  suit  is  gained;  that  he  is  now  the 
rightful  owner  of  the  whole  of  the  Godfrey  and  Godfrey 
Browne  estates,  and  lands  of  Ben  Currig,  Tulough  Callaghan, 
Knock  Swinery,  Kildallooran,  Tullimeoran,  Ballycanderi- 
gan,  with  all  the  manorial  rights,  privileges,  and  perquisites 
appertaining  to,  —  in  a  word,  sir,  for  I  see  your  impatience, 
to  something,  a  mere  trifle,  under  seventeen  thousand  per 
annum,  not  to  speak  of  a  sum,  at  present  not  exactly 
known,  in  bank,  besides  foreign  bonds  and  securities  to  a 
large  amount." 

While  Mr.  Simms  recited  this,  with  the  practised  volu- 
bility of  one  who  had  often  gone  over  the  same  catalogue 
before,  Cashel  stood  amazed,  and  almost  stupefied,  unable 


A  CHALLENGE.  25 

to  grasp  in  his  mind  the  full  extent  of  his  good  fortune,  but 
catching,  here  and  there,  glimpses  of  the  truth,  in  the  few 
circumstances  of  family  history  alluded  to.  Not  so,  Don 
Rica;  neither  confusion  nor  hesitation  troubled  the  free 
working  of  his  acute  faculties,  but  he  sat  still,  patiently 
watching  the  effect  of  this  intelligence  on  the  youth  before 
him.  At  length,  perceiving  that  he  did  not  speak,  he  him- 
self turned  towards  the  stranger,  and  said,  — 

"You  are,  doubtless,  a  man  of  the  world,  sir,  and  need 
no  apologies  for  my  remarking  that  good  news  demands  a 
scrutiny  not  less  searching  than  its  opposite.  As  the 
friend  of  Senhor  Cashel,"  —  here  he  turned  a  glance 
beneath  his  heavy  brows  at  the  youth,  who,  however, 
seemed  not  to  notice  the  word,  —  "  as  his  friend,  I  repeat, 
deeply  interested  in  whatever  affects  him,  I  may,  perhaps,  be 
permitted  to  ask  the  details  of  this  very  remarkable  event." 

"If  you  mean  the  trial,  sir, — or  rather  the  trials,  for 
there  were  three  at  bar,  not  to  mention  a  suit  in  equity  and 
a  bill  of  discovery  — " 

"No,  I  should  be  sorry  to  trespass  so  far  upon  you," 
interrupted  Rica.  "What  I  meant  was  something  in  the 
shape  of  an  assurance,  —  something  like  satisfactory  proof 
that  this  narrative,  so  agreeable  to  believe,  should  have  all 
the  foundation  we  wish  it." 

"Nothing  easier,"  said  Mr.  Simms,  producing  an  enor- 
mous black  leather  pocket-book  from  the  breast  of  his  coat, 
and  opening  it  leisurely  on  the  table  before  him.  "Here 
are,  I  fancy,  documents  quite  sufficient  to  answer  all  your 
inquiries.  This  is  the  memorandum  of  the  verdict  taken  at 
Bath,  with  the  note  of  the  Attorney-General,  and  the  point 
reserved,  in  which  motion  for  a  new  trial  was  made." 

"What  is  this?"  asked  Cashel,  now  speaking  for  the 
first  time,  as  he  took  up  a  small  book  of  strange  shape, 
and  looked  curiously  at  it. 

"  Check-book  of  the  bank  of  Fordyce  and  Grange,  Lom- 
bard Street,"  replied  Simms;  "and  here,  the  authority  by 
which  you  are  at  liberty  to  draw  on  the  firm  for  the  balance 
already  in  their  hands,  amounting  to  —  let  me  see  "  —  here 
he  rapidly  set  down  certain  figures  on  the  corner  of  a  piece 
of  paper,  and  with  the  speed  of  lightning  performed  a  sum 


26  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

in  arithmetic  —  "  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three 
thousand  pounds  seven  and  elevenpence,  errors  excepted." 

"This  sum  is  mine!"  cried  Cashel,  as  his  eyes  flashed 
fire,  and  his  dark  cheek  grew  darker  with  excitement. 

"It  is  only  a  moiety  of  your  funded  property,"  said 
Simms.  "Castellan  and  Biggen,  the  notaries,  certify  to  a 
much  larger  amount  in  the  Three  per  Cents." 

''And  I  am  at  liberty  to  draw  at  once  for  whatever 
amount  I  require?" 

"Within  that  sum,  certainly.  Though,  if  you  desire 
more,  I  'm  sure  they  '11  not  refuse  your  order." 

"Leave  us  for  a  moment,  sir,"  said  Cashel,  in  an  accent 
whose  trembling  eagerness  bespoke  the  agitation  he  labored 
under.  "I  have  something  of  importance  to  tell  this 
gentleman." 

"If  you  will  step  this  way,  sir,"  said  Don  Rica,  politely. 
"I  have  ordered  some  refreshment  in  this  room,  and  I 
believe  you  will  find  it  awaiting  you." 

Mr.  Simms  gladly  accepted  the  offered  hospitality,  and 
retired.  The  door  was  not  well  closed,  when  Don  Rica 
advanced  with  extended  hands  towards  Cashel,  and  said: 

"With  all  my  heart  I  give  you  joy;  such  good  fortune 
as  this  may,  indeed,  obliterate  every  little  cloud  that  has 
passed  between  us,  and  make  us  once  more  the  friends  we 
have  ever  been." 

Cashel  crossed  his  arms  on  his  breast,  and  coldly  replied, 
"I  thank  you.  But  a  few  hours  back,  and  one-half  as 
much  kindness  would  have  made  a  child  of  me  in  feeling. 
Now  it  serves  only  to  arouse  my  indignation  and  my 
anger." 

"Are  you  indeed  so  unjust,  so  ungenerous  as  this!" 
exclaimed  Rica,  in  a  tone  whose  anguish  seemed  wrung 
from  the  very  heart. 

"Unjust,  —  ungenerous!  how?"  cried  Cashel,  passion- 
ately. 

"Both,  sir,"  said  Rica,  in  a  voice  of  almost  commanding 
severity.  "Unjust  to  suppose  that  in  thwarting  your  last 
resolve  to  leave  a  service  in  which  you  have  already  won 
fame  and  honor,  I  was  not  3^our  best  and  truest  friend; 
that  in  offering  every  opposition  in  my  power  to  such  a  hot- 


A   CHALLENGE.  27 

headed  resolution,  I  was  not  consulting  your  best  interests; 
ungenerous  to  imagine  that  I  could  feel  any  other  sentiment 
than  delight  at  your  altered  fortunes,  I,  who  gave  you  all 
that  was  dearest  and  nearest  to  me  on  earth,  my  child,  -^ 
my  Maritana." 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  passionate  emotion  of  the  last 
few  words,  Cashel's  anger  would  have  suggested  a  reply 
not  less  indignant  than  his  question;  but  the  sight  of  the 
hard,  the  stern,  the  unflinching  Pedro  Rica,  as  he  now 
stood,  —  his  face  covered  by  his  hands,  while  his  strong 
chest  heaved  and  throbbed  with  convulsive  energy,  —  this 
was  more  than  he  felt  prepared  to  look  on.  It  was  then 
only  by  a  great  effort  he  could  say,  "  You  seem  to  forget, 
Senhor  Rica,  how  differently  you  interpreted  this  same 
contract  but  a  few  hours  ago.  You  told  me  then  —  I  think 
I  hear  the  words  still  ringing  in  my  ears  —  that  you  never 
thought  of  such  an  alliance;  that  your  calculation  took  a 
less  flattering  estimate  of  my  relationship." 

"I  spoke  in  anger,  Roland,  — anger  caused  by  your  pas- 
sionate resolve.  Remember,  too,  that  I  preferred  holding 
you  to  your  contract,  in  preference  to  allowing  you  to 
redeem  it  by  paying  the  penalty." 

"Easy  alternative,"  said  Cashel,  with  a  scornful  laugh; 
"you  scarcely  expected  a  beggar,  a  ruined  gambler,  could 
pay  seventy  thousand  doubloons.  But  times  are  changed, 
sir.  I  am  rich  now,  —  rich  enough  to  double  the  sum  you 
stipulated  for.  Although  I  well  know  the  contract  is  not 
worth  the  pen  that  wrote  it,  I  am  willing  to  recognize  it,  at 
least  so  far  as  the  forfeit  is  concerned." 

"My  poor  child,  my  darling  Maritana,"  said  Pedro,  but 
in  a  voice  barely  audible.  The  words  seemed  the  feeble 
utterance  of  a  breaking  heart. 

"Sorrow  not  for  her,  senhor,"  said  Cashel,  hastily.  "She 
has  no  griefs  herself  on  such  a  score.  It  is  but  a  few  hours 
since  she  told  me  so." 

Don  Pedro  was  silent;  but  a  mournful  shake  of  the  head 
and  a  still  more  mournful  smile  seemed  to  intimate  his 
dissent. 

"I  tell  you,  sir,  that  your  own  scorn  of  m}^  alliance  was 
inferior  to  hers!  "  cried  Cashel,  in  a  voice  of  deep  exas- 


28  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

peration.  "She  even  went  so  far  as  to  say  that  she  was  a 
party  to  the  contract  only  on  the  condition  of  its  utter 
worthlessness.  Do  not,  then,  let  me  hear  of  regrets  for 
her.'* 

"And  you  believe  this?" 

"I  believe  what  I  have  myself  witnessed." 

"What,  then,  if  you  be  a  witness  to  the  very  opposite? 
What  if  your  ears  reveal  to  you  the  evidence  as  strongly 
against,  as  now  you  deem  it  in  favor  of,  your  opinion?  " 

"  I  do  not  catch  your  meaning." 

"  I  would  say,  what  if  from  Maritana's  own  lips  you 
heard  an  avowal  of  her  affection,  would  you  conceive  your- 
self at  liberty  to  redeem  a  contract  to  which  you  were  only 
one  party,  and  by  mere  money  —  I  care  not  how  large  you 
call  the  sum  —  to  reject  the  heart  you  have  made  your 
own?" 

"No,  no,  this  cannot  be,"  cried  Cashel,  struggling  in  a 
conflict  of  uncertainty  and  fear. 

"I  know  my  daughter,  sir,"  said  Pedro,  with  an  air  of 
pride  he  well  knew  when  and  how  to  assume. 

"If  I  but  thought  so,"  muttered  Cashel  to  himself;  and 
low  as  the  words  were,  Rica  heard  them. 

"I  ask  you  for  nothing  short  of  your  own  conviction,  — 
the  conviction  of  your  own  ears  and  eyes.  You  shall,  if 
you  please,  remain  concealed  in  her  apartment  while  I  ques- 
tion her  on  the  subject  of  this  attachment.  If  you  ever 
supposed  me  base  enough  to  coerce  her  judgment,  you  know 
her  too  well  to  believe  it  to  be  possible.  But  I  will  not 
insult  myself  by  either  supposition.  I  offer  you  this  test 
of  what  I  have  said :  accept  it  if  you  will,  and  with  this 
condition,  that  you  shall  then  be  free  to  tear  this  contract, 
if  you  like,  but  never  believe  that  I  can  barter  the  ac- 
knowledged affection  of  my  child,  and  take  money  for  her 
misery." 

Cashel  was  moved  by  the  truth-like  energy  of  the  words  he 
heard ;  the  very  aspect  of  emotion  in  one  he  had  never  seen 
save  calm,  cold,  and  self-possessed,  had  its  influence  on 
liim,  and  he  replied,  "  I  consent."  So  faintly,  however, 
were  the  words  uttered  that  he  was  obliged  to  repeat  them 
ere  they  reached  Don  Pedro's  ears. 


A  CHALLENGE;.  29 

*^1  will  come  for  you  after  supper  this  evening,*'  said 
Rica.  "  Let  me  find  you  in  the  arbor  at  the  end  of  the 
*  hacienda.'  Till  then,  adios."  So  saying,  he  motioned  to 
Cashel  to  follow  the  stranger.  Roland  obeyed  the  sugges- 
tion, and  they  parted. 


chaptp:r  III. 

MR.    SIMMS    ON    LIFE    AT    THE    VILLA. 

He  told  tliem  of  meu  that  cared  not  a  d — n 

For  the  law  or  the  new  police, 
And  had  very  few  scruples  for  killing  a  lamb, 

If  they  fancied  the^-  wanted  the  fleece. 

Sir  Peter's  Lament. 

When  Roland  Cashel  rejoined  Mr.  Simms,  he  found  that 
worthy  individual  solacing  himself  for  the  privations  of 
prairie  travel,  by  such  a  breakfast  as  only  Don  Pedro's 
larder  would  produce.  Surrounded  by  various  dishes  whose 
appetizing  qualities  might  have  suffered  some  impairment 
from  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  their  contents,  —  suck- 
ing monkeys  and  young  squirrels  among  the  number,  —  he 
tasted  and  sipped,  and  sipped  again,  till  between  the  seduc- 
tions of  sangaree  and  Curayoa  punch,  he  had  produced  that 
pleasing  frame  of  mind  when  even  a  less  gorgeous  scene 
than  the  windows  of  the  villa  displayed  before  him  would 
have  appeared  delightful. 

Whether  poor  Mr.  Simms's  excess  —  and  such  we  are  com- 
pelled to  confess  it  was  —  could  be  excused  on  the  score 
of  long  fasting,  or  the  consciousness  that  he  had  a  right 
to  some  indulgence  in  the  hour  of  victory,  he  assuredly 
revelled  in  the  fullest  enjoyment  of  this  luxurious  banquet, 
and,  as  Cashel  entered  the  room,  had  reached  the  delicious 
dreamland  of  misty  consciousness,  where  his  late  adven- 
tures and  his  former  life  became  most  pleasingly  commin- 
gled, and  jaguars,  alligators,  gambusinos,  and  rancheros, 
danced  through  his  brain  in  company  with  Barons  of  the 
Exchequer  and  Masters  in  Chancery. 

Elevated  by  the  scenes  of  danger  he  had  passed  through, 
—  some  real,  the  far  greater  number  imaginary,  —  into  the 
dignity  of  a  hero,  he  preferred  rather  to  discuss  prairie  life 


MR.   SIMMS  ON  LIFE   AT  THE  VILLA.  31 

and  scenes  in  the  Havannah,  to  dwelling  on  the  topics  so 
nearly  interesting  to  Cashel.  Nor  was  Roland  a  very 
patient  listener  to  digressions,  which,  at  every  moment, 
left  the  high-road,  and  wandered  into  every  absurd  by-path 
of  personal  history. 

"  I  always  thought,  sir,"  said  Simms,  "  and  used  to  say 
it  everywhere,  too,  what  a  splendid  change  for  you  this 
piece  of  good  fortune  would  be,  springing  at  a  bound,  as 
a  body  might  say,  from  a  powder-monkey  into  the  wealth 
of  a  peer  of  the  realm ;  but,  egad,  when  I  see  the  glorious 
life  you  lead  hereabouts,  such  grog,  such  tipple,  capital 
house,  magnificent  country,  and,  if  I  may  pronounce  from 
the  view  beneath  my  window,  no  lack  of  company,  too ! 
I  begin  to  feel  doubts  about  it." 

If  Cashel  was  scarcely  pleased  at  the  allusions  to  himself 
in  this  speech,  he  speedily  forgave  them  in  his  amusement 
at  the  commentary  Simms  passed  on  life  at  the  villa ;  but 
yet  would  willingly  have  turned  from  either  theme  to  that 
most  engrossing  one,  —  the  circumstances  of  his  altered  for- 
tune. Simms,  however,  was  above  such  grovelling  subjects ; 
and,  as  he  sat,  glass  in  hand,  gazing  out  upon  the  garden, 
where  strolling  parties  came  and  went,  and  loitering  groups 
lingered  in  the  shade,  he  really  fancied  the  scene  a  perfect 
paradise. 

''Very  hard  to  leave  this,  you'll  find  it!"  exclaimed 
Simms.  "  I  can  well  imagine  life  here  must  be  rare  fun. 
How  jolly  they  do  seem  down  there !  "  said  he,  with  a  half- 
longing  look  at  the  strange  figures,  who  now  and  then 
favored  him  with  a  salute  or  a  gesture  of  the  hand,  as  they 
passed. 

"Come,  let  us  join  them,"  said  Cashel,  who,  despairing 
of  recalling  him  to  the  wished-for  topic,  was  fain  to  consent 
to  indulge  the  stranger's  humor. 

"All  naval  men?"  asked  Simms,  as  they  issued  forth 
into  the  lawn. 

"  Most  of  them  are  sailors !  "  said  Cashel,  equivocating. 

"That's  a  fine-looking  old  fellow  beneath  the  beech-tree, 
with  the  long  Turkish  pipe  in  his  mouth.  He 's  captain  of 
a  seventy-four,  I  take  it." 

"  He  's  a  Greek  merphantroan,"  whispered  Cashel ;  *'  don't 


32  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

look  so  hard  at  him,  for  he  observes  you,  and  is  somewhat 
irascible  iu  temper,  if  stared  at." 

"  Indeed  !  I  should  n't  have  thought  —  " 

"No  matter,  do  as  I  tell  you;  he  stabbed  a  travelling 
artist  the  other  day,  who  fancied  he  was  a  fine  study,  and 
wished  to  make  a  drawing  of  his  head." 

Simms's  jaw  dropped  suddenly,  and  a  sickly  faintness 
stole  over  him,  that  even  all  his  late  potations  could  not 
supply  courage  enough  to  hear  such  a  story  unmoved. 

"And  who  is  he,  sir,  yonder?"  asked  he,  as  a  youth, 
with  no  other  clothing  than  a  shirt  and  trousers,  was  fencing 
against  a  tree,  practising,  by  bounds  and  springs,  every 
imaginable  species  of  attack  and  assault. 

"A  young  Spaniard  from  the  Basque,"  said  Cashel, 
coolly;  "he  has  a  duel  to-morrow  with  some  fellow  in 
Barcelonetta,  and  he's  getting  his  wrist  into  play."  Then 
calling  out,  he  said,  "  Ah,  Jose,  you  mean  to  let  blood,  I 
see !  " 

"He's  only  a  student,"  said  the  youth,  with  an  insolent 
toss  of  his  head.     "  But  who  have  we  here?  " 

"A  friend  and  countryman  of  mine,  Mr.  Simms,"  said 
Cashel,  introducing  the  little  man,  who  performed  a  whole 
circuit  round  the  young  Spaniard  in  salutations. 

"Come  to  join  us?"  asked  the  youth,  surveying  him 
with  cool  impertinence.  "  What  in  the  devil's  name  hast 
thou  done  that  thou  shouldst  leave  the  Old  World  at  thy 
time  of  life?  Virtuous  living  or  hypocrisy  ought  to  have 
become  a  habit  with  thee  ere  now,  old  boy,  eh?" 

"He's  only  on  a  visit,"  said  Cashel,  laughing;  "  he  can 
return  to  good  society,  not  like  all  of  us  here." 

"  Would  you  infer  from  that,  sir  —  " 

"  Keep  your  temper,  Jose,"  said  Cashel,  with  an  inde- 
scribable assumption  of  insolent  superiority ;  "or,  if  you 
cannot,  keep  your  courage  for  the  students,  whose  broils 
best  suit  you." 

"  You  presume  somewhat  too  far  on  your  skill  with  the 
rapier,  Senhor  Cashel,"  said  the  other,  but  in  a  voice  far 
less  elevated  than  before. 

"  You  can  test  the  presumption  at  any  moment,"  said 
Cashel,  insolently ;  "  now,  if  you  like  it." 


MR.  SIMMS  ON  LIFE   AT  THE  VILLA.  33 

*' Oh,  Mr.  Cashel!  oh,  Mr.  Roland!  for  mercy's  sake, 
don't !  "  exclaimed  Simms. 

"  Never  fear,"  interposed  Cashel ;  "  that  excellent  young 
man  has  better  principles  than  you  fancy,  and  never  neglects, 
though  he  sometimes  forgets,  himself." 

So  saying,  he  leisurely  passed  his  arm  beneath  Simms's, 
and  led  him  forward. 

''Good  day,  Senhor  Cashel,"  said  a  tall  and  well-dressed 
man,  who  made  his  salutations  with  a  certain  air  of  distinc- 
tion that  induced  Simms  to  inquire  who  and  what  he  was. 

"  A  general  in  the  service  of  one  of  the  minor  States  of 
Germany,"  said  Cashel ;  "a  man  of  great  professional  skill, 
and,  it  is  said,  of  great  personal  bravery." 

"  And  in  what  capacity  is  he  here?" 

"  A  refugee.  His  sentence  to  be  shot  was  commuted  to 
imprisonment  for  life.  He  made  his  escape  from  Spandau, 
and  came  here." 

' '  What  was  his  crime  ?  " 

"  Treachery,  —  the  very  basest  one  can  well  conceive ;  he 
commanded  the  fort  of  Bergstein,  which  the  French  attacked 
on  their  advance  in  the  second  Austrian  campaign.  The 
assailants  had  no  heavy  artillery,  nor  any  material  for 
escalade;  but  they  had  money,  and  gold  proved  a  better 
battering-train  than  lead.  Plittersdorf  —  that's  the  gen- 
eral's name  —  fired  over  their  heads  till  he  had  expended  all 
his  ammunition,  and  then  surrendered,  with  the  garrison, 
as  prisoners  of  war.  The  French,  however,  exchanged  him 
afterwards,  and  he  very  nearly  paid  the  penalty  of  his  false 
faith." 

"  And  now  is  he  shunned,  —  do  people  avoid  him?  " 

"How  should  they?  How  many  here  are  privileged  to 
look  down  on  a  traitor?  Is  it  the  runaway  merchant,  the 
defaulting  bank  clerk,  the  filching  commissary,  that  can 
say  shame  to  one  whose  crime  stands  higher  in  the  scale 
of  offence?  The  best  we  can  know  of  any  one  here  is,  that 
his  rascality  took  an  aspiring  turn ;  and  yet  there  are  some 
fellows  one  would  not  like  to  think  ill  of.  Here  comes 
one  such ;  and  as  I  have  something  like  business  to  treat 
of  with  him,  I  '11  ask  you  to  wait  for  me,  on  this  bench, 
till  I  join  you." 
VOL.  I.  — 3 


34  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Without  waiting  for  any  reply,  Cashel  hastened  forward, 
and  taking  off  his  hat,  saluted  a  sallow-looking  man  of 
some  eight-and-forty  or  fifty  years  of  age,  who,  in  a  loose 
morning-gown,  and  with  a  book  in  his  hand,  was  strolling 
along  in  one  of  the  alleys. 

"  Ha,  lieutenant,"  said  the  other,  as,  lifting  up  his  eyes, 
he  recognized  Cashel,  —  "making  the  most  of  these  short 
hours  of  pleasure,  eh  ?  You  've  heard  the  news,  I  suppose  ; 
we  shall  be  soon  afloat  again." 

"So  I've  heard,  captain!"  replied  Cashel;  "but  I  be- 
lieve we  have  taken  our  last  cruise  together." 

"  How  so,  lad?  You  look  well,  and  in  spirits;  and  as  for 
myself,  I  never  felt  in  better  humor  than  to  try  a  bout  with 
our  friends  on  the  western  coast." 

"  You  have  no  friend,  captain,  can  better  like  to  hear 
you  say  so;  and  as  for  me,  the  chances  of  fortune  have 
changed.  I  have  discovered  that  I  need  neither  risk  head 
nor  limbs  for  gold ;  a  worthy  man  has  arrived  here  to-day 
with  tidings  that  I  am  the  owner  of  a  large  estate,  and 
more  money  than  I  shall  well  know  how  to  squander,  and 
so  —  " 

"  And  so  you  '11  leave  us  for  the  land  where  men  have 
learned  that  art?  Quite  right,  Cashel.  At  your  age  a  man 
can  accustom  himself  to  any  and  everything ;  at  mine  —  a 
little  later  —  at  mine,  for  instance,  the  task  is  harder.  I 
remember  myself,  some  years  ago,  fancying  that  I  should 
enjoy  prodigiously  that  life  of  voluptuous  civilization  they 
possess  in  the  Old  World,  where  men's  wants  are  met  ere 
they  are  well  felt,  and  hundreds  —  ay,  thousands  —  are  toil- 
ing and  thinking  to  minister  to  the  rich  man's  pleasures. 
It  so  chanced  that  I  took  a  prize  a  few  weeks  after;  she 
was  a  Portuguese  barque  with  specie,  broad  doubloons  and 
gold  bars  for  the  mint  at  Lisbon,  and  so  I  threw  up  my 
command  and  went  over  to  France  and  to  Paris.  The  first 
dash  was  glorious ;  all  was  new,  glittering,  and  splendid ; 
every  sense  steeped  in  a  voluptuous  entrancement ;  thought 
was  out  of  the  question,  and  one  only  could  wonder  at  the 
barbarism  that  before  seemed  to  represent  life,  and  sorrow 
for  years  lost  and  wasted  in  grosser  enjoyment.  Then  came 
a  reaction,  at  first  slight,  but  each  day  stronger ;  the  head- 


MR.   SIMMS  ON  LIFE   AT  THE   VILLA.  35 

ache  of  the  debauch,  the  doubt  of  your  mistress's  fidelity, 
your  friend's  truth,  your  own  enduring  good  fortune,  —  all 
these  lie  in  wait  together,  and  spring  out  on  you  in  some 
gloomy  hour,  like  Malays  boarding  a  vessel  at  night,  and 
crowding  down  from  maintop  and  mizen  !  There  is  no  with- 
standing ;  you  must  strike  or  fly.  I  took  the  last  alterna- 
tive, and,  leaving  my  splendid  quarters  one  morning  at 
daybreak,  hastened  to  Havre.  Not  a  thought  of  regret 
crossed  me ;  so  quiet  a  life  seemed  to  sap  my  very  courage, 
and  prey  upon  my  vitals ;  that  same  night  I  swung  once 
more  in  a  hammock,  with  the  rushing  water  beside  my  ear, 
and  never  again  tried  those  dissipations  that  pall  from  their 
very  excess ;  for,  after  all,  no  pleasure  is  lasting  which  is 
not  dashed  with  the  sense  of  danger." 

While  he  was  yet  speaking,  a  female  figure,  closely  veiled, 
passed  close  to  where  they  stood,  and,  without  attracting 
any  notice,  slipped  into  Cashel's  hand  a  slip  of  paper.  Few 
as  the  words  it  contained  were,  they  seemed  to  excite  his 
very  deepest  emotion,  and  it  was  with  a  faltering  voice  he 
asked  the  captain  by  what  step  he  could  most  speedily 
obtain  his  release  from  the  service? 

A  tiresome  statement  of  oflficial  forms  was  the  answer ;  but 
Roland's  impatience  did  not  hear  it  out,  as  he  said,  — 

*' And  is  there  no  other  way,  —  by  gold,  for  instance?" 

A  cold  shrug  of  the  shoulders  met  this  sally,  and  the 
captain  said,  — 

"  To  corrupt  the  officials  of  the  Government  is  called 
treason  by  our  laws,  and  is  punishable  by  death,  just  like 
desertion." 

*'  Therefore  is  desertion  the  better  course,  as  it  involves 
none  but  one,"  said  Cashel,  laughing,  as  he  turned  away. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  KENNYFECK  HOUSEHOLD. 

Man,  being  reasonable,  must  dine  out ; 
The  best  of  life  is  but  a  dinner-party. 

Amphytrion,  Canto  IV. 

It  was  about  half-past  six  of  an  autumn  evening,  just  as 
the  gray  twilight  was  darkening  into  the  gloom  that  pre- 
cedes night,  that  a  servant,  dressed  in  the  most  decorous 
black,  drew  down  the  window-blinds  of  a  large  and  splen- 
didly furnished  drawing-room  of  a  house  in  Merrion  Square, 
Dublin. 

Having  arranged  certain  portly  deep-cushioned  chairs 
into  the  orderly  disorder  that  invites  social  groupings,  and 
having  disposed  various  other  articles  of  furniture  accord- 
ing to  those  notions  of  domestic  landscape  so  popular  at 
the  present  day,  he  stirred  the  fire  and  withdrew,  —  all  these 
motions  being  performed  with  the  noiseless  decorum  of  a 
church. 

A  glance  at  the  apartment,  even  by  the  fitful  light  of  the 
coal-fire,  showed  that  it  was  richly,  even  magnificently,  fur- 
nished. The  looking-glasses  were  immense  in  size,  and 
framed  with  all  that  the  most  lavish  art  of  the  carver  could 
display.  The  hangings  were  costly  Lyons  silk,  the  sofas, 
tables,  and  cabinets  were  all  exquisite  specimens  of  modern 
skill  and  elegance,  while  the  carpet  almost  rose  above  the 
foot  in  the  delicate  softness  of  its  velvet  pile.  A  harp,  a 
grand  pianoforte,  and  several  richly-bound  and  gilded  vol- 
umes strewed  about  gave  evidence  of  tastes  above  the  mere 
voluptuous  enjoyment  of  ease,  and  in  one  window  stood 
an  embroidery-frame,  with  its  unfinished  labor,  from  which 
the  threads  depended  in  that  fashion,  that  showed  it  had 
lately  occupied  the  fair  hands  of  the  artist. 


THE  KENNYFECK  HOUSEHOLD.         37 

This  very  enviable  apartment  belonged  to  Mr.  Mount  joy 
Kennyfeck,  the  leading  solicitor  of  Dublin,  a  man  who,  for 
something  more  than  thirty  years,  had  stood  at  the  head 
of  his  walk  in  the  capital,  and  was  reputed  to  be  one  of  its 
most  respected  and  richest  citizens.  Mrs.  Mountjoy  Kenny- 
feck—  neither  for  our  own  nor  our  reader's  convenience 
dare  we  omit  the  "pre'nom"  —  was  of  a  western  family 
considerably  above  that  of  her  liege  lord  and  master  in 
matter  of  genealogy,  but  whose  quarterings  had  so  far  sur- 
vived the  family  acres  that  she  was  fain  to  accept  the  hand 
of  a  wealthy  attorney,  after  having  for  some  years  been  the 
belle  of  her  county,  and  the  admired  beauty  of  Castle  balls 
and  drawing-rooms. 

It  had  been  at  first,  indeed,  a  very  hard  struggle  for  the 
O'Haras  to  adopt  the  style  and  title  of  Kennyfeck,  and  poor 
Matilda  was  pitied  in  all  the  moods  and  tenses  for  exchan- 
ging the  riotous  feudalism  of  Mayo  for  the  decorous  quietude 
and  wealthy  insouciance  of  a  Dublin  mansion ;  and  the  va- 
rious scions  of  the  house  did  not  scruple  to  express  very 
unqualified  opinions  on  the  subject  of  her  fall ;  but  Time  — 
that  heals  so  much  —  Time  and  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  claret,  of 
which  they  all  drank  most  liberally  during  the  visits  to  town, 
assuaged  the  rancor  of  these  prejudices,  and"  Matty,"  it  was 
hinted,  might  have  done  worse ;  while  some  hardy  spirit 
averred  that  "  Kennyfeck,  though  not  one  of  ourselves,  has 
a  great  deal  of  the  gentleman  about  him,  notwithstanding." 

A  word  of  Mr.  Kennyfeck  himself,  and  even  a  word  will 
almost  suffice.  He  was  a  very  tall,  pompous-looking  per- 
sonage, with  a  retiring  forehead  and  a  large  prominent 
nose ;  he  wore  a  profusion  of  powder,  and  always  dressed 
in  the  most  scrupulous  black ;  he  spoke  little,  and  that 
slowly ;  he  laughed  never.  It  was  not  that  he  was  melan- 
choly or  depressed ;  it  seemed  rather  that  his  nature  had 
been  fashioned  in  conformity  with  the  onerous  responsibili- 
ties of  his  pursuit,  and  that  he  would  have  deemed  any 
exhibition  of  mirthful  emotion  unseemly  and  unbecoming 
one  who,  so  to  say,  was  a  kind  of  high  priest  in  the  temple 
of  equity.  Next  to  the  Chancellor's  he  venerated  the  de- 
cisions of  Mrs.  Kennyfeck ;  after  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  came 
the  Master  of  the  Rolls.     This  was  his  brief  and  simple 


38  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

faith,  and  it  is  astonishing  in  what  simple  rules  of  guidance 
men  amass  vast  fortunes,  and  obtain  the  highest  suffrages 
of  civic  honor  and  respect ! 

Mr.  Kennyfeck's  family  consisted  of  two  daughters :  the 
eldest  had  been  a  beauty  for  some  years,  and,  even  at  the 
period  our  tale  opens,  had  lost  few  of  her  attractions.  She 
was  tall,  dark- haired,  and  dark-eyed,  with  an  air  of  what 
in  the  Irish  capital  is  called  "  decided  fashion"  about  her, 
but  in  less  competent  circles  might  have  been  called  almost 
effrontery.  She  looked  strangers  very  steadily  in  the  face, 
spoke  with  a  voice  full,  firm,  and  unabashed, — no  matter 
what  the  subject,  or  who  the  audience,  —  and  gave  her 
opinions  on  people  and  events  with  a  careless  indifference 
to  consequences  that  many  mistook  for  high  genius  rebel- 
lious against  control. 

Olivia,  three  years  younger  than  her  sister,  had  just  come 
out ;  and  whether  that  her  beauty  —  and  she  was  very  hand- 
some —  required  a  different  style,  or  that  she  saw  more 
clearly  '*  the  mistake  "  in  Miss  Kennyfeck's  manner,  but 
she  took  a  path  perfectly  her  own.  She  was  tenderness 
itself ;  a  delicacy  too  susceptible  for  this  work-a-day  world 
pervaded  all  she  said  and  did,  —  a  retiring  sensitiveness  that 
she  knew,  as  she  plaintively  said,  would  never  "  let  her  be 
loved,"  overlaid  her  nature,  and  made  her  the  victim  of  her 
own  feelings.  Her  sketches,  everlasting  Madonnas  dis- 
solved in  tears ;  her  music,  the  most  mournful  of  the  melo- 
dies ;  her  reading,  the  most  disastrously  ending  of  modern 
poems,  —  all  accorded  with  this  tone,  which,  after  all, 
scarcely  consorted  well  with  a  very  blooming  cheek,  bright 
hazel  eyes,  and  an  air  and  carriage  that  showed  a  full  con- 
sciousness of  her  captivations,  and  no  small  reliance  on  her 
capacity  to  exercise  them. 

A  brief  interval  after  the  servant  left  the  room,  the  door 
opened,  and  Mrs.  Kenny  feck  entered.  She  was  dressed  for 
dinner,  and  if  not  exactly  attired  for  the  reception  of  a  large 
company,  exhibited,  in  various  details  of  her  costume,  un- 
equivocal signs  of  more  than  common  care.  A  massive 
diamond  brooch  fastened  the  front  of  her  dark  velvet  dress, 
and  on  her  fingers  several  rings  of  great  value  glittered. 
Miss  Kennyfeck,  too,  who  followed  her,  was,  though  simply, 


THE  KENNYFECK  HOUSEHOLD.         S9 

most  becomingly  dressed ;  the  light  and  floating  material  of 
her  robe  contrasting  well  with  the  more  stately  folds  of  the 
matronly  costume  of  her  mother. 

"I  am  surprised  they  are  not  here  before  this,"  said  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  lying  back  in  the  deep  recess  of  a  luxurious 
chair,  and  placing  a  screen  between  lierself  and  the  fire. 
*'  Your  father  said  positively  on  the  5th,  and  as  the  weather 
has  been  most  favorable,  I  cannot  understand  the  delay. 
The  packets  arrive  at  four,  I  think  ?  " 

"  Yes,  at  four,  and  the  carriage  left  this  at  three  to 
fetch  them." 

"  Read  the  note  again,  —  he  writes  so  very  briefly  always. 
I  'm  sure  I  wish  the  dear  man  would  understand  that  I  am 
not  a  client,  and  that  a  letter  is  not  exactly  all  it  might  be, 
because  it  can  be  charged  its  thirteen-and-fourpence,  or 
six-and-eightpence,  whatever  it  is." 

Miss  Kennyfeck  took  an  open  note  from  the  chimney, 
and  read :  — 

Dear  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  —  We  have  made  all  the  necessary 
arrangements   in    London,  and    shall   leave  on  the   2nd,    so   as   to 

arrive  at  Merrion  Square  by  the  5th.     Mr.  C would,  I  believe, 

rather  have  remained  another  day  in  town  ;  but  there  was  no 
possibility  of  doing  so,  as  the  "  Chancellor  "  will  sit  on  Tuesday. 
Love  to  the  girls,  and  believe  me,  yours  very  truly, 

M,  Kennyfeck. 

Invite  Jones  and  Softly  to  meet  us  at  dinner. 

The  clock  on  the  mantelpiece  now  struck  seven ;  and 
scarcely  had  the  last  chime  died  away  as  a  carriage  drove  up 
to  the  door. 

''  Here  they  come,  I  suppose,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  with 
a  half-sigh. 

"No,  mamma;  it  is  a  hackney-coach.  Mr.  Jones,  or 
Mr.  Softly,  perhaps." 

"Oh,  dear!  I  had  forgotten  them.  IIow  absurd  it  was 
to  ask  these  people,  and  your  father  not  here." 

The  door  opened,  and  the  servant  announced  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Knox  Softly.  A  very  tall,  handsome  3'oung  man  entered, 
and  made  a  most  respectful  but  cordial   salutation   to  the 


40  HOLAND  CASHEL. 

ladies.  He  was  in  look  and  mien  the  heau  ideal  of  health, 
strength,  and  activity,  with  bright,  full  blue  eyes,  and 
cheeks  rosy  as  the  May.  His  voice,  however,  was  subdued 
to  the  dulcet  accent  of  a  low  whisper,  and  his  step,  as  he 
crossed  the  room,  had  the  stealthy  noiselessness  of  a  cat's 
approach. 

"  Mr.  Kenny  feck  quite  restored,  T  hope,  from  the  fatigue 
of  his  journey?" 

"  We  've  not  seen  him  yet,"  replied  his  lady,  almost  tartly. 
"  He  ought  to  have  been  here  at  four  o'clock,  and  yet  it 's 
past  seven." 

"  I  think  I  hear  a  carriage." 

*'  Another "  hackney,  Miss  Kenny  feck  was  about  to 

say,  when  she  stopped  herself,  and,  at  the  instant.  Coun- 
sellor Clare  Jones  was  announced. 

This  gentleman  was  a  rising  light  of  the  Irish  bar,  who 
had  the  good  fortune  to  attract  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  attention, 
and  was  suddenly  transferred  from  the  dull  duties  of  civil 
bills  and  declarations  to  business  of  a  more  profitable  kind. 
He  had  been  somewhat  successful  in  his  college  career,  — 
carried  off  some  minor  honors ;  was  a  noisy  member  of  a 
debating  society  ;  wrote  leaders  for  some  provincial  papers  ; 
and  with  overbearing  powers  of  impudence,  and  a  good 
memory,  was  a  very  likely  candidate  for  high  forensic 
honor. 

Unlike  the  first  arrival,  the  Counsellor  had  few,  if  any,  of 
the  forms  of  good  society  in  his  manner  or  address.  His 
costume,  too,  was  singularly  negligent ;  and  as  he  ran  a  very 
dubious  hand  throuoh  a  mass  of  thick  and  tansjled  hair  on 
entering,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  the  greatest  part  of  his 
toilet  was  then  and  there  performed.  The  splashed  appear- 
ance of  his  nether  garments,  and  of  shoes  that  might  have 
done  honor  to  snipe-shooting,  also  showed  that  the  carriage 
which  brought  him  was  a  mere  ceremonial  observance,  and, 
as  he  would  himself  say,  "  the  act  of  conveyance  was  a 
surplusage." 

Those  who  saw  him  in  court  pronounced  him  the  most 
unabashed  and  cool  of  men ;  but  there  was  certainly  a 
somewhat  of  haste  and  impetuosity  in  his  drawing-room 
manner  that  even  a  weak  observer  would  have  ascribed  to 
awkwardness. 


THE  KENNYFECK  HOUSEHOLD.  41 

**  How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck?  —  how  do  you  do, 
Miss  Kennyfeck  ?  —  glad  to  see  you.  Ah !  Mr.  Softly,  — 
well,  I  hope  ?  Is  he  come  —  has  he  arrived  ?  "  A  shake  of 
the  head  replied  in  the  negative.  "' Very  strange ;  I  can't 
understand  it.  We  have  a  consultation  with  the  Solicitor- 
General  to-morrow,  and  a  meeting  in  chambers  at  four." 

"  I  should  n't  wonder  if  Mr.  Cashel  detained  papa;  he  is 
very  young,  you  know,  and  London  must  be  so  new  and 
strange  to  him,  poor  lad !  " 

''  Yes  ;  but  your  father  would  scarce  permit  it,"  said  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  smartly.  "  I  rather  think  it  must  have  been 
some  accidental  circumstance;  coaches  are  constantly  up- 
setting, and  post-horses  cannot  always  be  had." 

Mr.  Knox  Softly  smiled  benignly,  as  though  to  say  in 
these  suggestions  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  was  displaying  a  very 
laudable  spirit  of  uncertainty  as  to  the  course  of  human 
events. 

"Here's  Olivia,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  as  her  younger 
daughter  entered.  "  Let  us  hear  her  impressions,  — full  of 
forebodings,  I  don't  doubt." 

Miss  Olivia  Kennyfeck  performed  her  salutations  to  the 
guests  with  the  most  faultless  grace,  throwing  into  her 
courtesy  to  the  curate  a  certain  air  of  filial  reverence  very 
pretty  to  behold,  and  only  a  little  objectionable  on  the  score 
of  the  gentleman's  youth  and  personal  attractions ;  and 
then,  turning  to  her  mother  said,  — 

"  You  are  not  uneasy,  mamma,  I  hope?  Though,  after  all, 
this  is  about  the  period  of  the  equinox." 

"Nonsense,  child!  packets  are  never  lost  nowadays  in 
the  Irish  Channel.  It 's  merely  some  sudden  freak  of  gayety, 
—  some  London  distraction  detains  them.  Will  you  touch 
that  bell,  Mr.  Clare  Jones?     It  is  better  to  order  dinner." 

There  was  something  peremptory  in  the  lady's  tone  and 
manner  that  rather  damped  the  efforts  at  small-talk, —  never 
very  vigorous  or  well-sustained  at  these  ante-dinner  mo- 
ments ;  nor  were  any  of  the  party  very  sorry  when  the  ser- 
vant announced  that  the  soup  was  served. 


CHAPTER  V. 

HOW    ROLAND     BECAME     ENTITLED     TO     THE    GODFREY    BROWNE 
PROPERTY. 

The  sherry  iced,  —  the  company  still  colder. 

Bbll  :    Images. 

The  party  who  now  took  their  seats  at  table  were  not  made 
of  those  ingredients  whose  admixture  accomplishes  a  social 
meeting.  Their  natures,  pursuits,  and  tastes  were  only  suffi- 
ciently unlike  to  suggest  want  of  agreement,  without  pos- 
sessing the  broad  contrasts  that  invite  conversation  by  their 
own  contrariety.  Besides  this,  there  was  a  sense  of  con- 
straint over  every  one,  from  the  absence  of  the  host  and  his 
expected  guest ;  and  lastly,  the  very  aspect  of  a  gorgeously 
decorated  table,  with  vacant  places,  has  always  a  chilling 
influence  over  those  who  sit  around.  A  certain  amount  of 
propinquity  is  as  essential  to  conversation  as  good  roads  and 
easy  distances  are  a  necessary  condition  to  a  visiting  neigh- 
borhood. If  you  cannot  address  him  or  her  who  sits  beside 
you  without  attracting  the  attention  of  the  whole  table  to 
your  remark,  you  are  equally  debarred  from  the  common- 
places that  induce  table-talk,  or  the  smart  thing  that  cannot 
well  be  said  too  publicly. 

The  dinner  here  proceeded  in  very  stately  quietude,  nor 
were  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Jones  to  introduce  a  conversational 
spirit  at  all  successful ;  indeed,  that  gifted  gentleman  would 
have  willingly  exchanged  the  unexceptionable  cookery  and 
admirably  conditioned  wine  before  him  for  the  riotous 
freedom  of  a  bar  mess,  —  where  sour  sherry  and  nisi-prius 
jokes  abounded,  and  Father  Somebody's  song  was  sure  to 
give  the  scene  a  convivialitj^  that  only  yielded  its  fascination 
to  blind  hookey  or  spoiled  five. 


THE  GODFREY  BROWNE  PROPERTY.       43 

Far  otherwise  the  curate.  The  angelic  smile  that  sat 
upon  his  features  mechanically ;  his  low,  soft,  liquid  voice ; 
his  gentle  gestures ;  and  even  his  little  sallies  of  pleasantry, 
were  in  perfect  accordance  with  the  decorous  solemnity  of  a 
scene  where  the  chink  of  a  cut  decanter,  or  the  tingling 
sound  of  a  silver  dish-cover,  were  heard  above  the  stillness 
of  the  company. 

If,  then,  Mr.  Knox  Softly  accompanied  the  ladies  to  the 
door,  and  followed  them  out  with  his  eyes  with  an  expres- 
sion beaming  regretf  ulness  at  their  departure,  the  Counsellor, 
very  differently  minded,  surrounded  himself  with  an  array 
of  the  dessert-dishes  and  decanters,  and  prepared  to  discuss 
his  wine  and  walnuts  to  his  perfect  contentment. 

"  You  have  never  met  this  Mr.  Roland  Cashel,  I  believe?  " 
said  Mr.  Softly,  as  he  filled  a  very  large  claret  glass  and 
tasted  it  en  joy  ably." 

''Never,"  replied  Jones,  whose  teeth  were  busily  engaged 
in  smashing  almonds  and  filberts,  in  open  defiance  of  a 
tray  of  silver  nutcrackers  before  him.  "  I  don't  think  he 
has  been  in  Ireland  since  a  mere  child,  and  very  little  in 
England." 

"  Then  his  recovery  of  the  estate  was  quite  unexpected?  " 

''Mere  accident.  Kennyfeck  came  upon  the  proofs  when 
making  some  searches  for  a  collateral  claim.  The  stoi-y  is 
very  short.  This  lad's  father,  whose  name  was  Godfrey 
Cashel,  was  a  poor  lieutenant  in  the  81st,  and  quartered  at 
Bath,  when  he  chanced  to  discover  that  a  rich  old  bachelor 
there,  a  certain  Godfrey  Browne,  was  a  distant  relation  of 
his  mother.  He  lost  no  time  in  making  his  acquaintance 
and  explaining  the  relationship,  which,  however,  brought 
him  no  more  substantial  benefit  than  certain  invitations 
to  dinner  and  whist  parties,  where  the  unfortunate  lieute- 
nant lost  his  half-crowns. 

"At  length  a  note  came  one  mornijig  inviting  him  to 
breakfast  and  to  '  transact  a  little  matter  of  business.' 
Poor  Godfrey  read  tlie  words  with  every  commentary  tliat 
could  flatter  his  hopes,  and  set  out  in  better  spirits  than 
he  had  known  for  many  a  year  before.  What,  then,  was 
his  dismay  to  discover  that  he  was  only  wanted  to  witness 
the  old  gentleman's  will !  —  a  very  significant  proof  that  he 
was  not  to  benefit  by  its  provisions. 


44  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"  With  a  veiy  ill-repressed  sigh,  the  poor  lieutenant  threw 
a  glance  over  the  half-opened  leaves,  where  leasehold,  and 
copyhold,  and  freehold,  and  every  other  '  hold '  figured 
among  funded  property,  consols,  and  reduced  annuities,  — • 
with  money  lent  on  mortgages,  shares  in  various  compa- 
nies, and  what  not,  —  a  list  only  to  be  equalled  by  the  long 
catalogue  of  those  '  next  of  kin,'  who,  to  the  number  of 
seventeen,  were  mentioned  as  reversionary  heirs. 

''  'You  are  to  sign  your  name  here,  Mr.  Cashel,'  said  the 
solicitor,  pointing  to  a  carefully-scratched  portion  of  the 
parchment,  where  already  the  initials  were  pencilled  for  his 
guidance. 

'''Faith!  and  it's  at  the  other  side  of  the  book  I'd 
rather  see  it,'  said  the  lieutenant,  with  a  sigh. 

"'Not,  surely,  after  seventeen  others!'  exclaimed  the 
astonished  attorney. 

"'Even  so, — a  chance  is  better  than  nothing.' 

"'What's  that  he's  saying?'  interposed  the  old  man, 
who  sat  reading  his  newspaper  at  the  fire.  The  matter  was 
soon  explained  by  the  attorney,  and  when  he  finished,  Cashel 
added:  'That's  just  it;  and  I'm  to  sail  for  the  Cape  on 
the  4th  of  next  month,  and  if  you  '11  put  me  down  among 
the  rest  of  the  fellows,  I  '11  send  you  the  best  pipe  of  Con- 
stantia  you  ever  tasted,  as  sure  as  my  name  is  Godfrey 
Cashel.' 

"  The  old  man  threw  his  spectacles  up  on  his  forehead, 
wiped  his  eyes,  and  then,  replacing  his  glasses,  took  a 
deliberate  survey  of  the  poor  lieutenant  who  had  proposed 
such  a  very  '  soft '  bargain.  '  Eh !  Clinchet,'  said  he  to 
the  attorney,   'can  we  do  this  for  him?' 

"'Nothing  easier,  sir;  let  the  gentleman  come  in  last, 
as   residuary  legatee,   and  it  alters  nothing.' 

"'I  suppose  you  count  on  your  good  luck,'  said  old 
Browne,  grinning. 

"  '  Oh,  then,  it 's  not  from  my  great  experience  that  way/ 
said  Cashel.  '  I  've  been  on  the  "  Duke's  list  "  for  promotion 
seventeen  years  already,  and,  for  all  I  see,  not  a  bit  nearer 
than  the  first  day ;  but  there 's  no  reason  my  poor  boy 
should  be  such  an  unfortunate  devil.  Who  knows  but  for- 
tune may  make  amends  to  him  one  of  these  days?  Come, 
sir,  is  it  a  bargain  ? ' 


'THE  GODl'REY  BROWNE  PROPERTY.  45 

"  *  To  be  sure.  I  'm  quite  willing  ;  only  don't  forget  the 
Constantia.  It 's  a  wine  I  like  a  glass  of  very  well  indeed, 
after  my  dinner.' 

"The  remainder  is  easily  told;  the  lieutenant  sailed  for 
the  Cape,  and  kept  his  word,  even  though  it  cost  him  a 
debt  that  mortgaged  his  commission.  Old  Browne  gave  a 
great  dinner  when  the  wine  arrived,  and  the  very  first  name 
on  the  list  of  legatees,  his  nephew,  caught  a  fever  on  his 
way  home  from  it,  and  died  in  three  weeks. 

"  Kennyfeck  could  tell  us,  if  he  were  here,  what  became 
of  each  of  them  in  succession ;  four  were  lost,  out  yacht- 
ing, at  once ;  but,  singular  as  it  may  seem,  in  nineteen 
years  from  the  day  of  that  will,  every  life  lapsed,  and, 
stranger  still,  without  heirs ;  and  the  fortune  has  now  de- 
scended to  poor  Godfrey  Cashel's  boy,  the  lieutenant  him- 
self having  died  in  the  West  Indies,  where  he  exchanged 
into  a  native  regiment.  That  is  the  whole  story;  and 
probably  in  a  romance  one  would  say  that  the  thing  was 
exaggerated,  so  much  more  strange  is  truth  than  fiction." 

"  And  what  kind  of  education  did  the  young  man  get?  " 

"I  suppose  very  little,  if  any.  So  long  as  his  father 
lived,  he  of  course  held  the  position  of  an  officer's  son,  — 
poor,  but  in  the  rank  of  gentleman.  After  that,  without 
parents,  —  his  mother  died  when  he  was  an  infant,  —  he  was 
thrown  upon  the  world,  and,  after  various  vicissitudes, 
became  a  cabin  boy  on  board  of  a  merchantman ;  then  he 
was  said  to  be  a  mate  of  a  vessel  in  the  African  trade  em- 
ployed on  the  Gold  Coast,  —  just  as  probably  a  slaver  ;  and, 
last  of  all,  he  was  lieutenant  in  the  Columbian  navy,  —  which, 
I  take  it,  is  a  very  good  name  for  piracy.  It  was  in  the 
Havannah  we  got  a  trace  of  him,  and  I  assure  you,  strange 
as  it  may  sound,  Kenny  feck's  agent  had  no  small  difficulty 
in  persuading  him  to  abandon  that  very  free-and-easy  ser- 
vice, to  assume  the  rights  and  immunities  of  a  very  large 
property. 

"  Kennyfeck  was  to  meet  him  on  his  arrival  in  England, 
about  ten  days  ago,  and  they  spent  a  few  days  in  London, 
and  were  —  But  hark  !  there  comes  a  carriage  now,  —  yes, 
I  know  the  step  of  his  horses ;    here  they  are !  '* 


CHAPTER   VI. 

A   FRACAS    IN    THE    BETTING-RING. 

Ne'er  mind  his  torn,  ill-fashioned  doublet, 
Beshrew  me !  if  he 's  not  a  pretty  man. 

Don  Lopez. 

The  movement  and  bustle  in  the  hall  showed  that  Mr. 
Jones's  surmise  was  correct;  for  scarcely  had  the  carriage 
stopped  than  the  street-door  was  flung  wide  open,  and  Mr. 
Pearse,  the  butler,  followed  by  a  strong  detachment  of 
bright-liveried  menials,  stood  bowing  their  respectful  com- 
pliments to  their  master  and  his  guest.  As  Mr.  Kennyfeck 
entered  the  house,  he  walked  slowly  and  with  ditficulty, 
endeavoring  at  the  same  time  to  avoid  all  scrutiny  of  his 
appearance  as  he  passed  through  the  crowded  hall;  but, 
although  his  hat  was  pressed  firmly  over  his  brows,  it  could 
not  entirely  conceal  a  very  suspiciously  tinted  margin 
around  one  eye;  while  the  care  with  which  he  defended  his 
left  arm,  and  which  he  carried  in  his  waistcoat,  looked  like 
injury  there  also. 

He,  however,  made  an  attempt  at  a  little  sprightliness  of 
manner,  as,  shaking  his  companion's  hand  with  cordial 
warmth,   he  said,  — 

"  Welcome  to  Ireland,  Mr.  Cashel.  I  hope  I  shall  very 
often  experience  the  happiness  of  seeing  you  under  this 

lOOf." 

The  person  addressed  was  a  remarkably  handsome  young 
man,  whose  air  and  carriage  bespoke,  however,  much  more 
the  confidence  that  results  from  a  sense  of  personal  gifts, 
and  a  bold,  daring  temperament,  than  that  more  tempered 
ease  which  is  the  consequence  of  fashionable  breeding. 

Mr.  Kennyfeck's  felicitations  on  their  arrival  were  scarce 
uttered  ere  Cashel  had  sulKciently  recovered  from  his  sur- 


A  FRACAS  IN  THE  BETTING-RING.  47 

prise  at  the  unexpected  magnificence  of  the  house  to  make 
any  reply;  for,  although  as  yet  advanced  no  further  than 
the  hall,  a  marble  group  by  Canova,  a  centre  lamp  of  costly 
Sevres,  and  some  chairs  of  carved  ebony  served  to  indicate 
the  expensive  style  of  the  remainder  of  the  mansion. 

While  Cashel,  then,  muttered  his  acknowledgments,  he 
added  to  himself,  but  in  a  voice  scarcely  less  loud,  — 

"Devilish  good  crib,  this,  Master  Kennyfeck." 

"Pearse,"  said  the  host,  "is  dinner  ready?  '* 

*'My  mistress  and  the  young  ladies  have  dined,  sir;  but 
Mr.  Jones  and  Mr.  Softly  are  in  the  parlor." 

"Well,  let  us  have  something  at  once;  or,  would  you 
prefer,  Mr.  Cashel,  making  any  change  in  your  dress 
first?" 

"I  say  dinner  above  all  things,"  said  the  youth,  disen- 
cumbering himself  of  a  great  Mexican  mantle. 

"Perfectly  right;  quite  agree  with  you,"  said  Kennyfeck, 
endeavoring  to  assume  a  little  of  his  guest's  dash;  "and 
here  we  are.  Ah,  Jones,  how  d'ye  do?  Mr.  Cashel,  this 
IS  my  friend  Mr.  Jones.  Mr.  Softly,  very  glad  to  see  you. 
Mr.  Softly  —  Mr.  Cashel.  Don't  stir,  I  beg;  keep  your 
places.  We  '11  have  a  bit  of  dinner  here,  and  join  you  at 
your  wine  afterwards.  Meanwhile,  I  '11  just  step  upstairs, 
and  be  back  again  in  a  moment,  you'll  excuse  me,  I'm 
sure." 

"Oh,  certainly,"  replied  Cashel,  who  appeared  as  if  he 
could  excuse  anything  with  a  better  grace  than  the  cere- 
monious slowness  of  the  butler's  arrangements. 

There  was  a  pause  of  a  few  seconds  as  Mr.  Kennyfeck 
left  the  room,  broken,  at  last,  by  Mr.  Jones  asking  if  they 
had  not  been  detained  by  contrary  winds. 

"  No,  I  think  not;  I  fancy  the  weather  was  pretty  average 
kind  of  weather.     Had  we  been  expected  here  earlier?  " 

"Yes;  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  mentioned  to  me  Monday,  and 
afterwards  Tuesday,  as  the  very  latest  day  for  your 
arrival." 

Cashel  made  no  remark;  and,  soon  after,  Mr.  Pearse's 
entrance  with  the  soup  put  an  end  to  the  conversation. 
"Mr.  Kennyfeck  desired  me  to  say,  sir,  not  to  wait  for 
him;  he'll  be  down  presently." 


48  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"What  do  you  call  this  soup?  " 

"Mock-turtle,  sir." 

"  Rather  too  much  Madeira  in  it  for  my  taste ;  but  that 
sha'  n't  prevent  my  having  a  glass  of  wine.  Will  you  per- 
mit me,  gentlemen?  " 

The  parties  bowed  politely ;  but  still  the  intercourse  did 
not  progress ;  and  in  the  exchanged  glances  of  those  at  the 
large  table,  and  the  sidelong  looks  Cashel  occasionally 
threw  towards  them,  it  was  easy  to  see  that  neither  party 
had  made  way  with  the  other. 

"I  fear  Kennyfeck  is  not  going  to  make  his  appearance," 
said  Cashel,  as  he  seemed  to  hesitate  about  proceeding  with 
his  dinner. 

"I  should  n't  advise  you  waiting,"  cried  Jones;  "the  fish 
is  growing  cold." 

"I  suspect  Mr.  Kennyfeck  is  fatigued  by  his  journey, 
sir,"  said  Mr.  Softly,  in  his  most  bland  of  voices;  "I 
thought  I  remarked  it  by  his  face." 

"Oh,  did  you?"  said  Cashel,  with  a  very  peculiar  look 
of  knowingness. 

"Yes;  you  are  aware,  Mr.  Cashel,"  interrupted  Jones, 
"  our  friend  is  n't  much  used  to  that  kind  of  thing.  I  sup- 
pose it 's  some  years  since  he  has  had  so  much  knocking 
about  as  in  these  last  few  days." 

"I  fancy  so,"  said  Cashel,  with  a  significant  smile  that 
puzzled  the  lawyer  exceedingly,  and  he  ate  on  without 
making  a  further  remark. 

The  two  or  three  efforts  made  by  Jones  and  Softly  to 
converse  together  were,  like  nearly  all  similar  attempts 
at  perfect  ease  and  self-possession,  complete  failures,  and 
gradually  slided  down  into  monosyllables,  and  then  to 
silence;  when  Cashel,  who  seemed  to  be  enjoying  his  veni- 
son and  Bordeaux  with  perfect  zest,  leaned  back  in  his 
chair  and  said,  "What  kind  of  place  is  this  same  good 
city  of  Dublin?     What  goes  forward  here?" 

As  this  question  was  more  directly  addressed  to  Jones, 
that  gentleman  prepared  himself,  not  unwillingly,  for  an 
elaborate  reply. 

"Dublin,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  he,  pretty  much  in  the  same 
tone  he  would  have  used  in  opening  an  address  to  a  jury,  — 


A  FRACAS  IN  THE  BETTING-RING.  49 

"Dublin  is  a  city  which,  from  a  great  variety  of  causes, 
will  always  be  exposed  to  every  variable  and  opposing 
criticism.     To  begin;  it  is  provincial  —  " 

"Is  it  slow?"  interrupted  Cashel,  who  had  listened  to 
this  exordium  with  palpable  signs  of  impatience. 

"  If  you  mean,  has  it  its  share  of  those  habits  of  dissi- 
pation, those  excesses  so  detrimental  alike  to  health  and 
fortune  —  " 

"No,  no;  I  merely  ask  what  goes  on  here, — how  do 
people  amuse  themselves  ?  "  said  Cashel,  fencing  to  avoid 
any  very  lengthened  exposure  of  the  other's  views. 

"They  dine,  dance,  drink  tea,  talk  politics  and  scandal, 
like  other  folk ;  but  if  you  ask,  what  are  the  distinguishing 
features  of  the  society  —  " 

"What  kind  of  sport  does  the  country  afford?"  inter- 
rupted Roland,   somewhat  unceremoniously. 

"Hunting,   shooting,   fishing,   coursing  — " 

"What  do  you  mean  by  hunting,  —  a  fox,  is  it?  " 

"Yes,  fox-hunting  and  hare-hunting,  too." 

A  very  insolent  laugh  was  Cashel's  answer,  as,  turning 
to  Mr.  Softly,  he  said,  "Well,  I  own,  all  this  does  strike 
me  as  a  very  tiresome  kind  of  life.  Do  you  like  Ireland, 
sir?" 

"I  feel  a  deep  interest  in  it,"  said  the  curate,  with  a  most 
solemn  manner. 

"Yes,  that 's  all  very  well;  but  do  you  like  it?  " 

"Were  it  not  for  its  darkness,"  said  Mr.  Softly,  sighing, 
"I  should  say  I  liked  it." 

"Darkness,"  echoed  Cashel,  —"darkness;  why,  hang  it, 
you  are  pretty  far  north  here.  What  is  the  darkness  you 
speak  of?  " 

"  I  alluded  to  popery,  sir,  —  to  the  obscuring  mists  of 
superstition  and  ignorance,"  replied  Mr.  Softly,  with  a 
kind  of  energetic  timidity  that  made  himself  blush. 

"  Oh  —  I  perceive  —  yes  —  I  understand, "  muttered  Cashel, 
who  certainly  felt  all  the  awkwardness  of  a  man  caught  in 
a  lie. 

"We  have  a  very  agreeable  society  among  the  bar  men," 
said  Jones,  returning  to  the  charge  in  a  new  direction;  "a 
great  deal  of  pleasantry  and  fun  goes  on  at  our  messes." 

VOL,  I. —  4 


50  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Droll  fellows,  I  suppose,"  said  Cashel,  carelessly.  "1 
remember  I  knew  a  lawyer  once;  he  was  a  mate  of  a  small 
clipper  in  the  African  trade,  —  mischievous  kind  of  devil 
he  was  too,  —  always  setting  the  slaves  by  the  ears,  and 
getting  money  for  settling  the  differences.  They  played 
him  a  good  trick  at  last."  Here  he  laughed  heartily  at  the 
recollection  for  several  minutes. 

''What  was  it?  "  asked  Jones,  in  some  curiosity  to  learn 
how  the  bar  was  respected  on  the  banks  of  the  Niger. 

"They  painted  him  black  and  sold  him  at  Cuba,"  said 
Cashel,  who  once  more  broke  out  into  laughter  at  the  excel- 
lence of  the  jest. 

Jones's  and  Softly's  eyes  met  with  a  most  complete 
accordance  in  the  glances  exchanged.  Meanwhile,  Cashel, 
drawing  his  chair  towards  the  larger  table,  filled  his  glass 
and  proceeded  to  smash  his  walnuts  with  all  the  easy  con- 
tentment of  a  man  who  had  dined  well. 

"I  perceive  Mr.  Kcnnyfeck  is  not  likely  to  join  us,"  said 
Softly,  with  a  half  suggestive  look  towards  the  door. 

"Tired,  perhaps,"  said  Jones,  affecting  what  he  opined 
to  be  the  cool  indifference  of  the  highest  fashion. 

"More  than  that,  I  suspect,"  said  Cashel,  with  a  most 
unfeigned  carelessness.     ''Did  you  remark  his  eye?  " 

"Yes!"  exclaimed  both  together.  "What  could  that 
mean?  " 

"A  slight  bit  of  a  scrimmage  we  had  on  the  way  from 
town ;  a  —  " 

"Mr.  Kennyfeck  engaged  in  a  row!  "  cried  Softly, 
almost  incredible  at  the  tidings. 

"Yes.  I  fancy  that  is  about  the  best  word  for  it,"  said 
Cashel,  sipping  his  wine.  "I  suppose  one  ought  not  to 
mention  these  kind  of  things ;  but  of  course  they  are  safe 
with  you.     They  '11  never  go  further,  I  am  certain." 

"Oh,  never,  —  not  a  syllable,"  chimed  in  the  two. 

"Well,  then,  on  our  way  here,  I  learned  that  there  were 
to  be  races  a  few  miles  from  Coventry,  and  as  I  saw  our 
friend  Kennyfeck  had  no  fancy  for  the  sight,  I  just  slipped 
a  few  half-crowns  into  the  postboy's  hand,  and  told  him  to 
drive  there  instead  of  taking  the  Liverpool  road.  Awav 
we  went  at  a  good  pace,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  reached 


A  FRACAS  IN  THE  BETTING-PJNG.  61 

the  course.  I  wish  you  saw  the  old  gentleman's  face  when 
he  awoke  from  a  sound  nap,  and  saw  the  grand  stand,  with 
its  thousand  faces,  all  in  a  row,  and  the  cords,  the  bettino-. 
ring,  and  the  whole  circumstance  of  a  race-ground.  By 
good  luck,  too,  the  sharp  jerk  of  our  pull-up  smashed  a 
spring,  and  so  we  had  nothing  for  it  but  to  leave  the  chaise 
and  wait  till  it  could  be  repaired.  While  my  servant  was 
away  in  search  of  some  kind  of  a  drag  or  other,  to  go  about 
the  field,  —  there  was  no  walking,  what  with  the  crowd  and 
the  press  of  horses,  not  to  speak  of  the  mud  that  rose 
over  the  ankles,  —  we  pushed  on,  —  that  is,  I  did,  with  a 
stout  grip  of  Kennyfeck's  arm,  lest  he  should  escape,  — we 
pushed  on,  into  the  ring.  Here  there  was  rare  fun  goino- 
forward,  every  fellow  screaming  out  his  bets,  and  booking 
them  as  fast  as  he  could.  At  first,  of  course,  the  whole 
was  all  ancient  Greek  to  me.  I  neither  knew  what  they 
meant  by  the  'favorite,'  or  'the  odds,'  or  'the  field;  '  but 
one  somehow  always  can  pick  up  a  thing  quickly,  if  it  be 
but 'game,'  and  so,  by  watching  here,  and  listening  there, 
I  managed  to  get  a  kind  of  inkling  of  the  whole  affair,  and 
by  dint  of  some  pushing  and  elbowing,  I  reached  the  very 
centre  of  the  ring,  where  the  great  dons  of  the  course  were 
betting  together. 

"  'Taurus  even  against  the  field,'  cried  one. 

*'  'Taurus  against  the  field,'  shouted  another. 

''And  this  same  cry  was  heard  on  every  side. 

"'Give  it  in  fifties,  —  hundreds  if  you  like  better,' 
said  a  young  fellow  mounted  on  a  smart-looking  pony,  to 
his  friend,  who  appeared  to  reflect  on  the  offer.  'Come, 
hurry  on,  man.  Let 's  have  a  bet,  just  to  give  one  an 
interest  in  the  race.'  The  other  shook  his  head,  and  the 
first  went  on,  'What  a  slow  set,  to  be  sure!  Is  no  one  will- 
ing to  back  the  field,  even?  Come,  then,  here  's  a  hundred 
pound  to  any  man  who  '11  take  the  field  against  Taurus,  for 
two  thousand.' 

"'Let  me  have  your  cob,'  said  I,  'and  I  '11  take  the  bet* 

"He  turned  round  in  his  saddle,  and  stared  at  me  as  if 
I  were  something  more  or  less  than  human,  while  a  very 
general  roar  of  laughing  ran  around  the  entire  circle. 

"'Come  away,  come  away  at  once,'  whispered  Kenny- 
feck,   trembling  with  fright. 


U.  OF  I.  LIBL' 


52  HOLAND  CASHEL. 

"'Yes,  you  had  better  move  off,  my  friend,'  said  a  thick- 
set, rough-looking  fellow,  in  a  white  coat. 

"  'What  say  you  to  five  thousand,  sir;  does  that  suit  your 
book  ?  '  cried  the  young  fellow  to  me,  in  a  most  insolent 
tone. 

"  'Oh,  let  him  alone,  my  Lord,'  said  another.  'Take  no 
notice  of  him.' 

"  'I  say,  Grindle,'  cried  a  tall  thin  man  with  moustaches, 
*who  let  these  people  inside  the  ring?' 

"  'They  forces  their  way,  my  Lud,'  said  a  little  knocker- 
kneed  creature,  in  a  coat  four  times  too  big  for  him,  'and 
I  says  to  Bill,  de  —  pend  upon  it.  Bill,  them's  the  swell 
mob.' 

"The  words  were  scarcely  out  of  the  fellow's  mouth 
when  a  general  cry  of  the  '  swell  mob  '  resounded  on  every 
side,  and  at  once  they  closed  upon  us,  some  pushing, 
others  elbowing,  driving,  and  forcing,  so  that  what  with 
the  dense  crowd,  and  the  tight  hold  Kennyfeck  now  kept  of 
me,  I  was  pinioned,  and  could  do  nothing.  At  last,  by  a 
vigorous  twist,  I  shook  them  off  from  me,  and  laid  two  of 
the  foremost  at  my  feet.  This  I  did  with  a  Mexican  trick 
I  saw  they  knew  nothing  about.  You  first  make  a  feint  at 
the  face,  and  then,  dropping  on  the  knee,  seize  the  fellow 
by  both  legs,  and  hurl  him  back  on  his  head,  —  just  stand 
up,  I  '11  not  hurt  you." 

"Thank  you, — I  understand  the  description  perfectly," 
said  Mr.  Softly,  pale  with  terror  at  the  proposed  experi- 
ment. 

"Well,  the  remainder  is  soon  told.  They  now  got  in 
upon  us,  and  of  course  I  need  n't  say  we  got  confoundedly 
thrashed.  Kennyfeck  was  tumbled  about  like  a  football; 
every  one  that  had  nothing  else  to  do  had  a  kick  at  him, 
and  there  's  no  saying  how  it  might  have  ended  had  not  a 
certain  Sir  George  Somebody  recognized  our  poor  friend, 
and  rescued  him.  I  'm  not  quite  sure  that  I  was  quite 
myself  about  this  time;  Kennyfeck  has  some  story  of  my 
getting  on  some  one's  horse,  and  riding  about  the  course  in 
search  of  the  originators  of  the  fray.  The  end  of  it,  how- 
ever, was,  we  reached  Liverpool  with  sorer  bones  than  was 
altogether  pleasant,  and  although,  when  Kennyfeck  went  to 
bed,  I  went  to  the  theatre,  the   noise  only  increased  my 


A  FRACAS  IN  THE  BETTING-RING.  53 

headache,  and  it  needed  a  good  night's  sleep  to  set  me  all 
right  again." 

"Mr.  Kenny  feck  taken  for  one  of  the  swell  mob!  " 
exclaimed  Softly,  with  a  sort  of  holy  horror  that  seemed  to 
sum  up  his  whole  opinion  of  the  narrative. 

"Very  bad,  wasn't  it?"  said  Cashel,  pushing  the  wine 
past;  "but  he's  a  capital  fellow, — took  the  whole  thing 
in  such  good  part,  and  seems  only  anxious  that  the  story 
should  n't  get  abroad.  Of  course  I  need  n't  repeat  my 
caution  on  that  subject?" 

"Oh,  certainly  not!  Shall  we  join  the  ladies?  "  said  Mr. 
Jones,  as  he  surveyed  his  whiskers  and  arranged  the  tie  of 
his  cravat  before  the  glass. 

"I'm  quite  ready,"  said  Cashel,  who  had  quietly  set 
down  in  his  own  mind  that  the  ladies  of  the  Kennyfeck 
family  were  a  kind  of  female  fac-simile  of  the  stiff -looking 
old  attorney,  and,  therefore,  felt  very  few  qualms  on  the 
subject  of  his  disordered  and  slovenly  appearance. 

Scarcely  had  Cashel  entered  the  drawing-room  than  he 
found  his  hand  grasped  in  Mr.  Kennyfeck's,  when,  with  a 
most  dulcet  acccent,  he  said,  — 

"I  knew  you'd  forgive  me, — I  told  Mrs.  Kennyfeck 
you'd  excuse  me  for  not  joining  you  at  dinner;  but  I  was 
really  so  fatigued.  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  —  Mr.  Cashel.  My 
daughter,  Mr.  Cashel.  My  daughter  Olivia.  Well,  now, 
have  you  dined  heartily?  —  I  hope  my  friends  here  took 
care  of  you." 

"I  thank  you.  I  never  dined  better,  — only  sorry  not  to 
have  had  your  company.  We  have  our  apologies  to  make, 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  for  not  being  earlier;  but,  of  course, 
you  've  heard  that  we  did  our  very  utmost." 

"Oh,  yes,  yes!  I  explained  everything,"  interrupted 
Kennyfeck,  most  eager  to  stop  a  possible  exposure.  "  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck  kno\>s  it  all." 

Although  Cashel's  manner  and  address  were  of  a  kind  to 
subject  him  to  the  most  severe  criticism  of  the  ladies  of  the 
Kennyfeck  family,  they  evinced  tlie  most  laudable  spirit  in 
their  hospitable  and  even  cordial  reception  of  him,  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck  making  room  for  him  to  sit  on  the  sofa  beside 
her,  —  a  post  of  honor  that  even  the  Castle  aides-de-cami) 


54  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

only  enjoyed  by  great  favor ;  while  the  daughters  listened 
with  an  attention  as  flattering  to  him  as  it  was  galling  to 
the  other  two  guests. 

Mr.  Softly,  however,  resigned  himself  to  this  neglect  as 
to  a  passing  cloud  of  forgetfuluess,  and  betook  himself  to 
the  columns  of  the  "Morning  Post"  for  consolation,  occa- 
sionally glancing  over  the  margin  to  watch  the  laughing 
group  around  the  fire.  As  for  Jones,  Mr.  Kennyfeck  had 
withdrawn  with  that  gentleman  into  a  window,  where  the 
tactics  of  some  bill  in  equity  engaged  their  attention,  — 
manifestly,  however,  to  the  young  barrister's  discontent,  as 
his  frequent  stolen  looks  towards  the  ladies  evidenced. 

It  was  the  first  time  that  the  Kennyf  ecks  had  ever  deigned 
to  listen  to  any  one  whose  claims  to  a  hearing  rested  on 
higher  grounds  than  the  light  gossip  and  small-talk  of  the 
capital,  the  small  fashionable  chit-chat  of  a  provincial  city, 
and  which  bears  the  same  resemblance  to  the  table-talk  of 
the  greater  metropolis  as  do  larks  to  ortolans,  when  dis- 
guised in  the  same  kind  of  sauce;  only  those  accustomed  to 
the  higher  flavor  being  able  to  detect  the  difference.  It 
was,  then,  with  as  much  surprise  as  pleasure  that  they 
found  themselves  listening  to  the  narratives  in  which  not  a 
single  noble  or  lordly  personage  figured,  nor  one  singular 
incident  occurred  reflecting  on  the  taste,  the  wealth,  or  the 
morals  of  their  acquaintance.  It  was  no  less  a  novelty, 
too,  for  Cashel  to  find  any  one  a  listener  to  descriptions  of 
scenes  and  habits  in  whose  familiarity  he  saw  nothing 
strange  or  remarkable;  so  that  when  the  young  ladies,  at 
first  attracted  by  mere  curiosity,  became  gradually  more 
and  more  interested  in  his  stories,  his  flattered  vanity  gave 
new  warmth  to  an  enthusiasm  always  ardent,  and  he  spoke 
of  prairie  life  and  adventure  with  a  degree  of  eloquence 
and  power  that  might  have  captivated  even  less  indulgent 
auditors. 

It  was,  besides,  the  first  time  that  they  ever  had  seen 
great  wealth  unallied  with  immense  pretension.  Cashel, 
perhaps  from  character,  or  that  his  accession  to  fortune  was 
too  recent,  and  his  consequent  ignorance  of  all  that  money 
can  do,  whichever  of  these  the  cause,  was  certainly  the 
most  unassuming  young  man  they  had  ever  met.     In  com- 


A  J'RACAS   IN  THE  BETTING-HlNG.  55 

parison  with  him,  the  aides-de-camp  were  princes  of  the 
blood ;  even  Mr.  Jones  put  forth  a  degree  of  pretension  on 
the  score  of  his  abilities,  which  stood  in  strong  contrast 
with  the  unaffected  and  simple  modesty  of  Roland  Cashel. 

It  is  but  fair  to  all  parties  to  add  that  dark  and  flashing 
eyes,  shaded  by  long  and  drooping  lashes,  a  high  and 
massive  forehead;  a  brown,  almost  Spanish  complexion, 
whose  character  was  increased  by  a  pair  of  short  coal- 
black  moustaches,  —  did  not  detract  from  the  merit  of 
tales,  which,  as  they  chiefly  related  to  feats  of  personal 
daring  and  address,  were  well  corroborated  by  the  admirable 
symmetry  and  handsome  proportions  of  the  relater. 

Story  followed  story.  Now  the  scene  lay  in  the  low  and 
misty  swamps  of  the  Niger,  where  night  resounds  with  the 
dull  roar  of  the  beasts  of  prey,  and  the  heavy  plash  of  the 
sluggish  alligator  on  the  muddy  shore;  now,  it  was  in 
the  green  wood  of  the  Spice  Islands,  amid  an  atmosphere 
scented  with  perfume,  and  glittering  with  every  gorgeous 
hue  of  plumage  and  verdure.  At  one  moment  he  would 
describe  a  chase  at  sea,  with  all  its  high  and  maddening 
excitement,  as  each  new  vicissitude  of  success  or  failure 
arose;  and  then  he  would  present  some  little  quiet  picture 
of  shore  life  in  a  land  where  the  boundless  resources  of 
Nature  supply,  even  anticipate,  the  wants  and  luxuries  of 
man. 

Whatever  the  interest,  and  occasionally  it  rose  to  a  high 
pitch,  that  attended  his  narratives  of  danger  and  daring, 
the  little  sketches  he  gave  from  time  to  time  of  the  domestic 
life  of  these  far-away  people,  seemed  to  attract  the  most 
delighted  attention  of  his  fair  hearers,  particularly  where  his 
narrative  touched  upon  the  traits,  whether  of  beauty,  dress, 
or  demeanor,  that  distinguish  the  belles  of  New  Spain. 

"How  difficult,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  "I  could  almost 
say,  how  impossible,  to  leave  a  land  so  abounding  in  the 
romance  of  life,  for  all  the  dull  and  commonplace  realities 
of  European  existence." 

"How  hard  to  do  so  without  leaving  behind  the  heart 
that  could  feel  such  ecstasies,"  murmured  Olivia,  with  a 
half-raised  eyelid,  and  a  glance  that  made  Cashel  flush  with 
delight. 


66  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"How  shall  we  ever  make  Ireland  compensate  you  for 
quitting  so  lovely  a  country ! "  said  Mrs.  Kennyf eck,  with 
a  smile  rarely  accorded  to  anything  lower  than  a  viscount. 

"We  have  a  Mexican  proverb,  madam,"  said  Cashel, 
gayly,  "which  says,  'Wherever  the  sun  shines,  bright  eyes 
shine  also.'  But  enough  of  these  tiresome  memories,  in 
which  my  egotism  will  always  involve  me.  Shall  we  have 
a  fandango?" 

"I  don't  know  it;  T  never  saw  it  danced." 

"Well,  the  manolo,  then." 

^'Nor  that  either,"  said  both  girls,  laughing. 

"Well,  will  you  learn?  I  '11  teach  you  the  manolo.  It 's 
very  simple.  If  you  '11  play  the  air.  Miss  Kennyfeck,  —  it 
runs  thus."  Here  he  opened  the  pianoforte,  and,  after  a 
few  chords,  struck  with  a  masterly  finger,  he  played  a  little 
Spanish  dance;  but  with  a  spirit  of  execution,  and  in  such 
an  exciting  character  of  time  and  measure,  that  a  general 
exclamation  of  delight  broke  from  the  whole  room;  Mr. 
Jones  himself  forgetting  all  rivalry,  and  Mr.  Softly  laying 
down  his  newspaper  to  listen,  and  for  a  moment  carried 
away  by  the  fascination  of  the  spirit-stirring  melody. 

"That  is  the  manolo;  come,  now,  and  let  me  teach  you, 
first  the  air,  and  then  the  dance." 

''Oh,  I  never  could  succeed  to  give  it  that  character  of 
bold  and  haughty  defiance  it  breathes  from  you,"  said  Miss 
Kennyfeck. 

"Nay,  nay,  a  man's  hand  is  always  so  rude  and  heavy, 
it  needs  the  taper  finger  of  a  lady,"  —  here  Cashel  bent, 
and  kissed  the  hand  he  held,  but  with  such  a  deference  and 
respect  in  the  salute,  that  deprived  the  action,  so  novel  to 
our  eyes,  of  any  appearance  of  a  liberty,  — "of  a  lady,"  he 
resumed,  "to  impart  the  ringing  brilliancy  of  the  saucy 
manolo." 

"Then  play  it  ovev  once  more,  and  I  '11  try,"  said  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  who  was  a  most  accomplished  musician,  and 
had  even  already  caught  up  the  greater  part  of  the  air. 

Cashel  obeyed,  and  again  the  plaudits  followed  even  more 
enthusiastically  than  the  first  time.  With  a  precision  that 
called  forth  many  a  hearty  "bravo"  from  Roland,  Miss 
Kennyfeck  played  over  the  air,  catching  up  all  the  spirit  of 


A  FRACAS  IN  THE   BETTING-RING. 


57 


its  transitions  from  gay  to  plaintive,  and  from  tender  to 
a  strain  bold,  daring,   and  energetic. 

"Now  for  the  dance,"  exclaimed  Cashel,  eagerly,  as  he 
busied  himself  in  removing  chairs  and  pushing  back  sofas. 
"Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  assist  me  with  this  table?  " 

Mr.  Softly,  the  gentleman  thus  addressed,  rose  to  comply, 
his  face  exhibiting  a  very  amusing  struggle  between  shame 
and  astonishment  at  the  position  he  occupied.     The  space 


cleared,  Roland  took  Olivia's  hand,  and  led  her  forward 
with  an  air  of  exceeding  deference. 

"Now,  Miss  Kenny  feck,  the  step  is  the  easiest  thing  in 
the  world.  It  goes  so,  —  one  —  two ;  one  —  two  —  three ; 
and  then  change —  Exactly,  quite  right;  you  have  it  per- 
fectly. This  is,  as  it  were,  an  introduction  to  the  dance; 
but  the  same  step  is  preserved  throughout,  merely  changing 
its  time  with  the  measure." 

It  would  be  as  impossible  to  follow  as  it  would  be  unfair 
to  weary  the  reader  with  the  lesson  which  now  began ;  and 
yet  we  would  like  to  linger  on  the  theme,  as  our  memory 
brings  up  every  graceful  gesture  and  every  proud  attitude 
of  the  fascinating  manolo.  Representing,  as  it  does,  by 
pantomimic  action  a  little  episode  of   devotion,   in  which 


58  ROLAND   CA8HEL. 

pursuit  and  flight,  entreaty,  rejection,  seductive  softness, 
haughty  defiance,  timid  fear,  and  an  even  insolent  boldness 
alternate  and  succeed  each  other,  all  the  movements  which 
expressive  action  can  command,  whether  of  figure  or  fea- 
ture, are  called  forth.  Now,  it  is  the  retiring  delicacy 
of  shrinking,  timid  loveliness,  half  hoping,  halt  fearing,  to 
be  pursued;  now  the  stately  defiance  of  haughty  beauty, 
demanding  homage  as  its  due.  At  one  moment  the  winning 
seductiveness  that  invites  pursuit,  and  then,  sudden  as  the 
lightning,  the  disdain  that  repels  advance. 

Not  the  least  interesting  part  of  the  present  scene  was  to 
watch  how  Olivia,  who  at  first  made  each  step  and  gesture 
with  diflSdence  and  fear,  as  she  went  on,  became,  as  it 
were,  seized  with  the  characteristic  spirit  of  the  measure; 
her  features  varying  with  each  motive  of  the  music;  her 
eyes  at  one  instant  half  closed  in  dreamy  languor,  and  at  the 
next  flashing  in  all  the  brilliancy  of  conscious  beauty.  As 
for  Roland,  forgetting,  as  well  he  might,  all  his  functions 
as  teacher,  he  moved  with  the  enthusiastic  spirit  of  the 
dance,  —  his  rapturous  gaze  displaying  the  admiration  that 
fettered  him;  and  when  at  last,  as  it  were,  yielding  to 
long-proved  devotion,  she  gave  her  hand,  it  needed  the 
explanation  of  its  being  a  Mexican  fashion  to  excuse  the 
ardor  with  which  he  pressed  it  to  his  lips. 

Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  applause,  however,  was  none  the  less 
warm;  and  if  any  of  the  company  disapproved,  they 
prudently  said  nothing,  —  even  Mr.  Softly,  who  only  evi- 
denced his  feeling  by  a  somewhat  hasty  resumption  of  the 
"Morning  Post,"  while  the  elder  sister,  rising  from  the 
piano,  whispered,  as  she  passed  her  sister,  "Bad  jockey- 
ship,  Livy,  dear,  to  make  fast  running  so  early." 

"And  that  is  the—  What  d'ye  call  it,  Mr.  Cashel?" 
said  Mrs.  Kenny  feck. 

"The  manolo,  madam.  It  is  of  Italian  origin,  rathei" 
than  Spanish,  — Calabrian,  I  fancy;  but,  in  Mexico,  it  has 
become  national,  and  well  suits  the  changeful  temper  of  our 
Spanish  belles,  and  the  style  of  their  light  and  floating 
costume." 

"Yes,  I  suspect  it  has  a  better  effect  with  short  drapery 
than  with  the  sweeping  folds  of  our  less  picturesque  dress," 


A  FRACAS  IN  THE  BETTING^RING.  59 

said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  who,  for  reasons  we  must  not  inquire, 
took  a  pleasure  in  qualifying  her  approval. 

"I  never  saw  it  appear  more  graceful,"  said  Cashel, 
with  a  blunt  abruptness  far  more  flattering  than  a  studied 
compliment. 

Olivia  blushed;  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  looked  happy,  and  the 
elder  sister  bit  her  lips,  and  threw  up  her  eyebrows,  with  an 
expression  we  cannot  attempt  to  render  in  words. 

"May  I  not  have  the  honor  of  introducing  you  to  the 
manolo?"  said  Cashel,  presenting  himself  before  her  with 
a  deep  bow. 

*' Thank  you,  I  prefer  being  a  spectator;  besides,  we 
could  have  no  music,  —  my  sister  does  not  play." 

Olivia  blushed;  and,  in  her  hasty  look,  there  was  an 
expression  of  gently  conveyed  reproach,  as  though  to  say, 
*'This  is  unfair." 

"Do  you  like  music,  Mr.  Cashel?  "  continued  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  who  saw  the  slight  cloud  of  disappointment 
that  crossed  Roland's  features.  "Oh,  1  'm  certain  you  do, 
and  I  know  you  sing!" 

"Yes,"  said  Cashel,  carelessly,  "as  every  one  sings  in 
that  merry  land  I  come  from;  but  I  fear  the  wild  carol- 
lings  of  a  ranchero  would  scarce  find  acceptance  in  the 
polished  ears  of  Europe." 

"What  are  the  melodies  like,  then?"  asked  Miss  Kenny- 
feck, throwing  into  the  question  a  most  eager  interest. 

"You  shall  hear,  if  you  like,"  said  Roland,  taking  up  a 
guitar,  and  striking  a  few  full  chords  with  a  practised 
hand.  "This  is  one  of  the  war-songs;  "  and  without 
further  preface  he  began.  Had  he  even  been  less  gifted 
than  he  was  as  to  voice  and  musical  taste,  there  was  enough 
in  the  bold  and  manly  energy  of  bis  manner,  in  the  fiery 
daring  of  his  dark  eyes,  and  the  expressive  earnestness  of 
his  whole  bearing,  to  attract  the  admiration  of  his  hearers. 
But,  besides  these  advantages,  he  was  not  unskilled  in  the 
science  of  music,  and  even  made  so  poor  an  instrument  a 
full  and  masterly  accompaniment,  imitating,  as  few  but 
Spaniards  can  do,  the  distant  sound  of  drums,  the  dropping 
fire  of  cannon,  the  wild  abru]it  changes  of  battle,  and  tiie 
low  plaintive  sounds  of  suffering  and  defeat ;  so  that,  as  he 


60  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

concluded,  the  whole  character  of  the  performance  had 
ceased  to  be  regarded  as  a  mere  musical  display,  but  had 
the  absolute  effect  of  a  powerfully  told  story. 

The  Kennyfecks  had  often  been  called  on  in  society  to 
award  their  praises  to  amateur  performances,  in  whose 
applause,  be  it  said,  en  jpassant^  a  grateful  sense  of  their 
being  concluded  always  contributes  the  enthusiasm;  but 
real  admiration  and  pleasure  now  made  them  silent,  and  as 
their  eyes  first  turned  on  the  singer  and  then  met,  there  was 
a  world  of  intelligence  in  that  one  quiet,  fleeting  glance 
that  revealed  more  of  secret  thought  and  feeling  than  we, 
as  mere  chroniclers  of  events,  dare  inquire  into. 

Whether  it  was  that  this  silence,  prolonged  for  some 
seconds,  suggested  the  move,  or  that  Mr.  Jones  began  to 
feel  how  ignoble  a  part  he  had  been  cast  for  in  the  whole 
evening's  entertainment,  but  he  rose  to  take  his  leave  at 
once,  throwing  into  his  manner  a  certain  air  of  easy  self- 
sufficiency,  with  which  in  the  "courts"  he  had  often  dis- 
missed a  witness  under  cross-examination,  and  by  a  mere 
look  and  gesture  contrived  to  disparage  his  testimony. 

None,  save  Miss  Kennyfeck,  perceived  his  tactic.  She 
saw  it,  however,  and,  with  a  readiness  all  her  own,  replied 
by  a  slight  elevation  of  the  eyebrow.  Jones  saw  his  ''sig- 
nal acknowledged,"  and  went  home  contented.  Poor  man, 
he  was  not  the  first  who  has  been  taken  into  partnership 
because  his  small  resources  were  all  *' ready,"  and  who  is 
ejected  from  the  firm  when  wider  and  grander  speculations 
are  entered  on.  I  am  not  certain  either  that  he  will  be  the 
last! 

Mr.  Softly  next  withdrew,  his  leave-taking  having  all  the 
blended  humility  and  cordiality  of  his  first  arrival;  and 
now  Mr.  Kennyfeck  was  awakened  out  of  a  very  sound  nap 
by  his  wife  saying  in  his  ear,  "Will  you  ask  Mr.  Cashel 
if  he  '11  take  a  biscuit  and  a  glass  of  wine  before  he 
retires?  " 

The  proposition  was  politely  declined,  and  after  a  very 
cordial  hand-shaking  with  all  the  members  of  the  family, 
Cashel  said  his  good-night  and  retired. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PEEPS  BEHIND  THE  CURTAIN. 

Ich  mochte  ihn  im  Schlafrock  sehen. 

Der  Reisende  Teufel. 
I  'd  like  to  see  him  in  his  robe-de-chambre. 

The  Travelling  Devil. 

There  has  always  appeared  to  us  somethiDg  of  treachery, 
not  to  speak  of  indelicacy,  in  the  privileges  authors  are 
wont  to  assume  in  following  their  characters  into  their  most 
secret  retirement,  watching  there  their  every  movement  and 
gesture,  overhearing  their  confidential  whisperings, — nay, 
sometimes  sapping  their  very  thoughts,  for  the  mere  indul- 
gence of  a  prying,  intrusive  curiosity. 

For  this  reason,  highly  appreciating,  as  we  must  do,  the 
admirable  wit  of  the  "Diable  Boiteux,"  and  the  pleasant 
familiar  humor  of  the  "Hermite  de  la  Chaussee  d'Antin," 
we  never  could  entirely  reconcile  ourselves  to  the  means  by 
which  such  amusing  views  of  life  were  obtained,  while  we 
entertain  grave  doubts  if  we,  —  that  is,  the  world  at  large, 
—  have  any  right  to  form  our  judgments  of  people  from  any 
other  evidence  than  what  is  before  the  public.  It  appears 
to  us  somewhat  as  if,  that  following  Romeo  or  Desdemona 
into  the  Green-room,  we  should  be  severe  upon  the  want  of 
keeping  which  suggested  the  indulgence  of  a  cigar  or  a  pot 
of  porter,  and  angry  at  the  high-flown  illusions  so  grossly 
routed  and  dispelled. 

"Act  well  your  part;  there  all  the  honour  lies,"  said  the 
poet  moralist;  but  it's  rather  hard  to  say  that  you  are  to 
''act  "  it  off  as  well  as  on  the  stage;  and  if  it  be  true  that  no 
man  is  a  hero  to  his  valet,  the  valet  should  say  nothing 
about  it;    and   this  is  the   very  offence   we   think    novel* 


62  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

writers  commit,  everlastingly  stripping  off  the  decorations 
and  destroying  the  illusions  they  take  such  trouble  to 
create,  for  little  else  than  the  vain  boastfulness  of  saying. 
See,  upon  what  flimsy  materials  I  can  move  you  to  senti- 
ments of  grief,  laughter,  pity,  or  contempt.  Behold  of 
what  vulgar  ingredients  are  made  up  the  highest  aspirations 
of  genius,  —  the  most  graceful  fascinations  of  beauty. 

Having  denounced,  by  this  recorded  protest,  the  practice, 
and  disclaiming,  as  we  must  do,  all  desire  to  benefit  by  its 
enjoyment,  we  desire  our  reader,  particularly  if  he  be  of 
the  less  worthy  gender,  to  feel  a  due  sense  of  the  obliga- 
tion he  owes  us,  if  we  claim  his  company  for  half  an  hour 
on  such  a  voyage  of  discovery.  Step  softly,  there  is  no 
excuse  for  noise,  as  the  stair-carpet  is  thick,  and  not  a 
sound  need  be  heard.  Gently,  as  you  pass  that  green  door, 
—  that  is  the  bedroom  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennyfeck.  We 
will  not  linger  there,  nor  invade  the  sanctity  of  those 
precincts,  within  which  the  monotonous  tones  of  Mrs.  K. 
are  heard,  revelling  in  that  species  of  domestic  eloquence 
which,  like  the  liberty  of  the  press,  is  oftener  pleasant  to 
those  who  employ,  than  to  those  who  receive  its  judgments. 
Here  for  a  few  minutes  let  us  stay.  This  is  Roland  Cashel's 
apartment;  and,  strange  enough,  instead  of  sleeping,  he  is 
up  at  his  table,  writing,  too,  —  he,  of  all  men  the  least 
epistolary.  There  may  be  no  great  indication  of  character 
in  mere  handwriting,  but  the  manner,  the  gesture,  the  degree 
of  rapidity  of  the  writer,  as  seen  at  the  moment,  are  all  full 
of  individuality.  Mark,  then,  with  what  speed  his  pen 
moves;  not  the  daisy-cutting  sling  of  the  accomplished 
rider,  but  the  slashing  gallop  of  the  heavy  charger.  Many 
a  blot,  never  an  erasure,  —  so,  there  it  goes,  —  "  Yours 
ever,  Roland  Cashel."     And  now,  he  begins  another. 

Come,  these  are  no  times  for  squeamishness.  Let  us 
anticipate  "Sir  James,"  and  read  before  he  seals  it. 

Dublin. 
My  dear  Comrade,  —  We  are  neither  of  us  very  gifted  letter- 
writers,  but  events  are  always  enough  to  tell,  even  wlien  style  be 
wanting;  and  here  am  I,  so  overwhelmed  by  the  rush  of  new  sen- 
sations that  I  know  not  where  to  begin,  or  how  to  tell  what  has  really 


PEEPS  BEHIND  THE   CURTAIN.  63 

happened  since  we  parted,  nor  distinguish  actual  stubborn  facts  from 
my  own  fancies.  My  brief  note  from  Porto  Giacomo  told  you  that 
I  had  succeeded  to  something  like  fifteen  thousand  pounds  a  year. 
I  believe  it  is  rather  more,  with  a  good  round  sum,  I  don't  know 
how  much,  in  bank;  and  now,  here  1  am,  just  arrived,  but  marvel- 
lously at  home,  in  the  house  of  the  worthy  fellow  that  has  established 
my  claim. 

If  I  only  knew  so  much  of  my  good  luck,  I  'd  say  it  was  no 
bad  thing  to  be  pleasantly  domesticated  in  a  capital  mansion,  with 
every  refinement  and  luxury  at  hand,  and  two  such  girls,  the 
daughters !  Oh,  amigo  mio,  you  'd  think  wondrous  little  of  the 
Barcelonetta  belles,  if  I  could  show  you  these  damsels !  Such  tempt- 
ing shyness  ;  such  shrinking,  playful  modesty ;  and  then  so  frank, 
without  that  slap-dash  abruptness !  Never  mind,  —  I  own  freely 
that  Maritana  is  lovely  ;  there  is  not  such  a  mouth  —  as  to  a  foot  — 
well,  well.  I  wish  I  could  take  a  peep  at  you  all  again,  just  as 
night  closes,  and  she  comes  out  to  take  her  walk  upon  the  grass,  and 
hear  her  singing  as  she  went,  or  watch  her  as  she  danced  the 
manolo,  which —  by  the  way  —  one  of  the  girls  here  caught  up  wonder- 
fully, and  in  almost  an  instant  too.  But  the  manolo,  with  a  long, 
sweeping,  flounced,  and  furbelowed  petticoat!  Only  think  of  the 
absurdity!  Not  but  she  looked  exceedingly  pretty  the  while,  but 
how  much  better  had  she,  if  one  could  only  have  cut  half  a  yard  off 
her  drapery! 

Have  you  received  the  pistols  I  sent  from  London?  I  hope 
you  '11  think  them  handsome,  —  I  know  they  are  true,  having  tried 
them  at  thirty-five,  and  even  fifty  paces.  The  yataghan  I  'm  certain 
you  '11  admire  ,•  it  has  the  peculiar  handle  and  hilt  you  're  fond  of. 
Pray  let  our  friends  on  the  Chilian  side  learn  something  of  the 
qualities  of  the  blade  itself.  I  have  been  thinking  since  about  the 
emeralds  —  and  perhaps  Maritana  may  refuse  them.  If  so,  do 
what  you  will  with  them  so  that  I  hear  no  more  of  the  matter. 
And  now  for  the  bond  :  release  me  from  that  tie  by  all  means. 
It  is  not  that  I  really  feel  it  in  the  light  of  a  contract,  —  Maritana 
never  did ;  but  I  have  it  ever  on  my  mind,  like  a  debt.  I  give  you 
full  powers  :  draw  upon  me  for  the  sum  you  please,  and  I  promise 
not  to  dishonor  the  check.  Pedro  likes  a  good  bargain,  and  don't 
balk  him  ! 

I  don't  know  what  your  own  views  are  in  that  quarter,  but  I  tell 
you  frankly  that  Maritaiia  has  higher  and  bolder  aspirations  than 
either  you  or  I  were  likely  to  aid  her  in  attaining.  She  is  a  proud 
girl,  Enrique,  and  will  never  care  for  any  man  that  is  not  able  and 
willing  to  elevate  her  into  a  very  different  sphere  from  that  she 
moves  in.  I  never  actually  loved  her,  —  I  certainly  do  not  do  so 
now,  —  and  yet  I  cannot  get  her  out  of  my  head. 


64  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Before  I  forget  it,  let  me  ask  you  to  pay  Ruy  Dias  two  hundred 
doubloons  for  me.  The  horse  I  killed  was  not  worth  forty ;  but 
these  are  not  times  for  bargaining,  and  the  fellow  didn't  want  to 
part  with  the  beast.  Alconetti  —  the  Italian  in  the  Plaza— has 
something  against  me,  —  pay  it  too  ;  and  now  that  I  am  on  the  subject 
of  debts,  whenever  you  next  cruise  off  Ventillanos,  send  a  party  on 
shore  to  catch  the  dean,  and  give  him  four-and-twenty  with  a  rope's 
end,  —  say  it  is  from  me  ;  he  '11  know  why,  and  so  shall  you,  when 
you  inform  me  that  it  has  been  cleverly  effected. 

Above  all,  my  dear  boy,  write ;  I  so  long  to  hear  about  you  all, 
and  to  know  all  that  has  happened  since  I  left  you.  Send  the  old 
trunks  with  my  uniform  to  the  agents  in  the  Havannah  ;  1  'd  like  to 
see  them  once  more.  Fran9ois  may  keep  anything  else  of  mine, 
except  what  you  would  like  to  select  as  a  "souvenir."  Don't  let 
Rica  write  to  me.  I  feel  I  should  have  no  chance  in  a  correspon- 
dence with  him ;  nor  need  I  have  any,  because  whatever  you  say,  I 
agree  to,  —  remember  that. 

If  you  can  manage  about  the  emeralds,  it  would  be  the  most 
gratifying  news  to  me.  You  might  tell  her  that  we  are  so  certain 
of  never  meeting  again,  and  that  all  is  now  over  forever,  and  so  on, 
—  it  would  have  an  air  of  unkindness  to  reject  them.  Besides,  I 
see  no  reason  why  she  should !  No  matter ;  I  need  n't  multiply 
reasons,  where,  if  one  will  not  suffice,  a  thousand  must  fail,  and  the 
chances  are,  if  she  suspect  my  anxiety  on  the  subject,  it  will  decide 
her  against  me.     Do  it,  then,  all  in  your  own  way. 

Have  I  said  all  I  wanted  ?  Heaven  knows  !  My  head  is  full ; 
my  heart,  too,  is  not  without  its  load.  I  wish  you  were  here.  I 
wish  it  for  many  reasons.  I  already  begin  to  suspect  you  are  right 
about  the  sudden  effect  a  spring  into  wealth  may  produce ;  but  I 
hope  that  all  you  said  on  that  score  may  not  be  true.  If  I  thought 
so,  I  'd  —  No  matter,  I  '11  endeavor  to  show  that  you  are  unjust, 
and  that  is  better.     Yours  ever, 

Roland  Cash£l. 

Don  Enrique  da  Cordova, 

Lieutenant  of  the  Columbian  frigate  "  Esmeralda." 

Care  of  Messrs.  Eustache  et  Le  Moine,  merchants,  Havannah. 

The  next  epistle  which  followed  was  far  more  brief.  It 
was  thus :  — 

Messrs.  Vanderhaeghen  und  Droek,  Antwerp. 

Enclosed  is  an  order  on  Hamerton  for  seventeen  thousand  four 
hundred  and  forty-eight  gulden,  principal  and  interest  for  three 
years,  of  an  unjust  demand  made  by  you  on  me  before  the  tribunal 
of  Bruges. 


PEEPS  BEHIND  THE   CURTAIN.  65 

You  failed,  even  with  all  the  aid  of  your  knavish  laws  and  more 
knavish  countrymen,  to  establish  this  iniquitous  claim,  and  only 
succeeded  in  exhibiting  yourselves  as  rogues  and  swindlers,  —  good 
burgher-like  qualities  in  your  commercial  city. 

I  have  now  paid  what  I  never  owed ;  but  there  still  remains 
between  us  an  unsettled  score.  Let  my  present  punctuality  guar- 
antee the  honorable  intentions  I  entertain  of  settling  it  one  day; 
till  when,  as  you  have  shown  yourselves  my  enemy, 

Believe  me  to  be  yours, 
Roland  Cashel. 

The  order  on  the  banker  ran  as  follows :  — 

Pay  to  Vanderhaeghen  und  Droek,  two  of  the  greatest  knaves 
alive,  seventeen  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-eight  gulden,  being 
the  principal  and  interest  for  three  years  of  a  dishonest  claim  made 

upon 

Roland  Cashel. 

To  Hamerton  and  Co.,  Cheapside. 

With  all  that  soothing  consciousness  we  hear  is  the  result 
of  good  actions,  Cashel  lay  down  on  his  bed  immediately 
on  concluding  this  last  epistle,  and  was  fast  asleep  almost 
before  the  superscription  was  dried. 

And  now,  worthy  reader,  another  peep,  and  we  have 
done.  Ascending  cautiously  the  stairs,  you  pass  through  a 
little  conservatory,  at  the  end  of  which  a  heavy  cloth  cur- 
tain conceals  a  door.  It  is  that  of  a  dressing-room,  off 
which,  at  opposite  sides,  two  bedrooms  lie.  This  same 
dressing-room,  with  its  rose-colored  curtains  and  ottoman, 
its  little  toilet-tables  of  satin-wood,  its  mirrors  framed  in 
alabaster,  its  cabinets  of  buhl,  and  the  book-shelves  so 
coquettishly  curtained  with  Malines  lace,  is  the  common 
property  of  the  two  sisters  whom  we  so  lately  introduced  to 
your  notice. 

There  were  they  wont  to  sit  for  hours  after  the  return 
from  a  ball,  discussing  the  people  they  had  met,  their  dress, 
their  manner,  their  foibles  and  flirtations;  criticising  with 
no  mean  acuteness  all  the  varied  games  of  match-making 
mammas  and  intriguing  aunts,  and  canvassing  the  schemes 
and  snares  so  rife  around  them.  And  oh,  ye  simple  wor- 
shippers of  muslin-robed  innocence!  oh,  ye  devoted  slaves 
VOL.  I.  — 5 


66  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

of  ringleted  loveliness  and  blooming  freshness!  bethink  ye 
what  wily  projects  lie  crouching  in  hearts  that  would  seem 
the  very  homes  of  careless  happiness;  what  calculations; 
what  devices ;  how  many  subtleties  that  only  beauty  wields, 
or  simple  man  is  vanquished  by! 

It  was  considerably  past  midnight  as  the  two  girls  sat  at 
the  fire,  their  dressing-gowns  and  slippered  feet  showing 
that  they  had  prepared  for  bed;  but  the  long  luxuriant  hair, 
as  yet  uncurled,  flowed  in  heavy  masses  on  their  neck  and 
shoulders.  They  did  not,  as  usual,  converse  freely  together; 
a  silence  and  a  kind  of  constraint  sat  upon  each,  and 
although  Olivia  held  a  book  before  her,  it  was  less  for  the 
purpose  of  reading  than  as  a  screen  against  the  fire,  while 
her  sister  sat  with  folded  arms  and  gently  drooping  head, 
apparently  lost  in  thought.  It  was  after  a  very  lengthened 
silence,  and  in  a  voice  which  showed  that  the  speaker  was 
following  up  some  train  of  thought.  Miss  Kennyfeck 
said,  — 

"And  do  you  really  think  him  handsome,  Olivia?  " 

"Of  whom  are  you  speaking,  dear?"  said  Olivia,  with 
the  very  softest  accent. 

Miss  Kennyfeck  started;  her  pale  cheeks  became  slightly 
red  as,  with  a  most  keen  irony,  she  replied,  "Could  you 
not  guess?     Can  I  mean  any  one  but  Mr.  Clare  Jones?  " 

"Oh,  he's  a  downright  fright,"  answered  the  other;  "but 
what  could  have  made  you  think  of  him?  " 

"I  was  not  thinking  of  him,  nor  were  you  either,  sister 
dear,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  fixing  her  eyes  full  upon  her; 
"we  were  both  thinking  of  the  same  person.  Come,  what 
use  in  such  subterfuges?  Honesty,  Livy,  may  not  be  the 
'best  policy,'  but  it  has  one  great  advantage,  —  it  saves  a 
deal  of  time;  and  so  I  repeat  my  question,  do  you  think 
him  handsome?  " 

"If  you  mean  Mr.  Cashel,  dearest,"  said  the  younger, 
half  bashfully,  "I  rather  incline  to  say  he  is.  His  eyes  are 
very  good ;  his  forehead  and  brow  —  " 

"There,  —  no  inventory,  I  beg,  —  the  man  is  very  well- 
looking,  I  dare  say,  but  I  own  he  strikes  me  as  iant  soit  pen 
sauvage.     Don't  you  think  so?" 

"True,  his  manners  —  " 


PEEPS  BEHIND  THE   CURTAIN.  67 

"Why,  he  has  none;  the  man  has  a  certain  rakish,  free- 
and-easy  demeanor  that,  with  somewhat  more  breeding, 
would  rise  as  high  as  'tigerism,'  but  now  is  detestable 
vulgarity." 

*'0h,  dearest,  you  are  severe." 

"I  rather  suspect  that  you  are  partial." 

"I,  my  dear!  not  I,  in  the  least.  He  is  not,  by  any 
means,  the  style  of  person  I  like.  He  can  be  very  amusing, 
perhaps;  he  certainly  is  very  odd,  very  original." 

"He  is  very  rich,  Livy,"  said  the  elder  sister,  with  a 
most  dry  gravity. 

"That  can  scarcely  be  called  a  fault,  still  less  a  mis- 
fortune," replied  Olivia,  slyly. 

"Well,  well,  let  us  have  done  with  aphorisms,  and  speak 
openly.  If  you  are  really  pleased  with  his  manner  and 
address,  say  so  at  once,  and  I  '11  promise  never  to  criticise 
too  closely  a  demeanor  which,  I  vow,  does  not  impress  me 
highly,  —  only  be  candid." 

"But  I  do  not  see  any  occasion  for  such  candor,  my  dear. 
He  is  no  more  to  me  than  he  is  to  you.  I  ask  no  protesta- 
tions from  you  about  this  Mr.  Roland  Cashel." 

Miss  Kennyfeck  bit  her  lip  and  seemed  to  repress  a  rising 
temptation  to  reply,  but  was  silent  for  a  moment,  when  she 
said,  in  a  careless,  easy  tone,  — 

"Do  you  know,  Livy  dearest,  that  this  same  manolo  you 
danced  this  evening  is  not  by  any  means  a  graceful  per- 
formance to  look  at,  at  least  when  danced  with  long,  sweep- 
ing drapery,  flapping  here  and  flouncing  there.  It  may 
suit  those  half-dressed  Mexican  damsels  .who  want  to  dis- 
play a  high  arched  instep  and  a  rounded  ankle,  and  who 
know  that  they  are  not  transgressing  the  ordinary  limits  of 
decorum  in  the  display;  but  certainly  your  friend  Mr. 
Softly  did  not  accord  all  his  approval.  Did  you  remark 
him?" 

"I  did  not;  I  was  too  much  engaged  in  learning  the 
figure:  but  Mr.  Softly  disapproves  of  all  dancing." 

"Oh,  I  know  he  does,"  yawned  Miss  Kennyfeck,  as  if 
the  very  mention  of  his  name  suggested  sleep;  "the  dear 
man  has  his  own  notions  of  pleasantry,  —  little  holy  jokes 
about  Adam  and  Eve.     There  is  nothing  so  intolerable  to 


68  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

me  as  the  insipid  playfulness  of  your  young  parson,  except, 
perhaps,  the  coarse  fun  of  your  rising  barrister.  How  I 
hate  Mr.   Clare  Jones ! " 

*'He  is  very  underbred." 

*'  He  is  worse ;  the  rudest  person  I  ever  met,  —  so 
familiar." 

* '  Why  will  he  always  insist  on  shaking  hands  ?  " 

"  Why  will  he  not  at  least  wash  his  own,  occasionally?  " 

''  And  then  his  jests  from  the  Queen's  Bench,  —  the  last 
mot  —  I  'm  sure  I  often  wished  it  were  so  literally  —  of  some 
stupid  Chief  Justice.  Well,  really,  in  comparison,  your  sav- 
age friend  is  a  mirror  of  good  looks  and  good  manners." 

*'  Good  night,  my  dear,"  said  Olivia,  rising,  as  though  to 
decline  a  renewal  of  the  combat. 

''  Good  night,"  echoed  her  sister,  bluntly,  "  and  pleasant 
dreams  of  '  Roland  the  brave,  Roland  the  true ;  '  the  latter 
quality  being  the  one  more  in  request  at  this  moment." 
And  so,  humming  the  well-known  air,  she  took  her  candle 
and  retired. 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

LOVE   V,    LAW. 

Ay !  marry  —  they  have  wiles, 

Compared  to  which,  our  schemes  are  honesty. 

The  Lawyer's  Daughter. 

Notwithstanding  all  that  we  hear  said  against  castle- 
building,  how  few  among  the  unbought  pleasures  of  life  are 
so  amusing,  nor  are  we  certain  that  these  shadowy  specula- 
tions —  these  ''  white  lies  "  that  we  tell  to  our  own  conscience 
—  are  not  so  many  incentives  to  noble  deeds  and  generous 
actions.  These  "imaginary  conversations"  lift  us  out  of 
the  jog-trot  path  of  daily  intercourse,  and  call  up  hopes  and 
aspirations  that  lie  buried  under  the  heavy  load  of  wearisome 
commonplaces  of  which  life  is  made  up,  and  thus  permit  a 
man,  immersed  as  he  may  be  in  the  fatigues  of  a  profession, 
or  a  counting-house,  harassed  by  law,  or  worried  by  the 
Three  per  Cents,  to  be  a  hero  to  his  own  heart  at  least  for 
a  few  minutes  once  a  week. 

But  if  "  castle-building  "  be  so  pleasurable  when  a  mere 
visionary  scheme,  what  is  it  when  it  comes  associated  with 
all  the  necessary  conditions  for  accomplishment,  —  when  not 
alone  the  plan  and  elevation  of  the  edifice  are  there,  but  all 
the  materials  and  every  appliance  to  realize  the  conception? 

Just  fancy  yourself  "two  or  three  and  twenty,"  waking 
out  of  a  sound  and  dreamless  sleep,  to  see  the  mellow  sun  of 
an  autumnal  morning  straining  its  rays  through  the  curtains 
of  your  bedroom.  Conceive  the  short  and  easy  struggle  by 
which,  banishing  all  load  of  cares  and  duties  in  which  you 
were  once  immersed,  you  spring,  as  by  a  bound,  to  the  joy- 
ous fact  that  you  are  the  owner  of  a  princely  fortune,  with 
health  and  ardent  spirit,  a  temper  capable  of,  nay,  eager  for 


70  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

engagement,  a  fearless  courage,  and  a  heart  unchilled. 
Think  of  this,  and  say.  Is  not  the  first  waking  half-hour  of 
such  thoughts  the  brightest  spot  of  a  whole  existence? 

Such  was  the  frame  of  mind  in  which  our  hero  awoke,  and 
lay  for  some  time  to  revel  in !  We  could  not,  if  we  would, 
follow  the  complex  tissue  of  day-dreams  that  wandered  over 
every  clime,  and  in  the  luxuriant  rapture  of  power  created 
scenes  of  pleasure,  of  ingredients  the  most  far-fetched  and 
remote.  The  "  actual  "  demands  our  attention  more  urgently 
than  the  "  ideal,"  so  that  we  are  constrained  to  follow  the 
unpoetical  steps  of  so  ignoble  a  personage  as  Mr.  Phillis,  — 
Cashel's  new  valet,  —  who  now  broke  in  upon  his  master's 
reveries  as  he  entered  with  hot  water  and  the  morning 
papers. 

*'  What  have  you  got  there?  "  cried  Cashel,  not  altogether 
pleased  at  the  intrusion. 

"  The  morning  papers !  Lord  Ettlecombe  "  —  his  former 
master,  and  his  universal  type — "always  read  the  'Post,* 
sir,  before  he  got  out  of  bed." 

"  Well,  let  me  see  it,"  said  Cashel,  who,  already  impressed 
with  the  necessity  of  conforming  to  a  new  code,  was  satisfied 
to  take  the  law  even  from  so  humble  an  authority  as  his  own 
man. 

"  Yes,  sir.  Our  arrival  is  announced  very  handsomely 
among  the  fashionable  intelligence,  and  the  '  Dublin  Mail  * 
has  copied  the  paragraph  stating  that  we  are  speedily  about 
to  visit  our  Irish  estates." 

"  Ah,  indeed,"  said  Cashel,  somewhat  flattered  at  his  new- 
born notoriety;  "where  is  all  this?" 

"Here,  sir,  under  'Movements  in  High  Life':  'The 
Duke  of  Uxoter  to  Lord  Debbington's  beautiful  villa  at 
Maulish ;  Sir  Harry  and  Lady  Emeline  Morpas,  etc. ; 
Rosenorris;  Lord  Fetcherton  — '  No,  here  we  have  it, 
sir,  —  '  Mr.  Roland  Cashel  and  suite '  —  Kennyfeck  and  self, 
sir  — '  from  Mivart's,  for  Ireland.  We  understand  that 
this  millionnaire  proprietor  is  now  about  to  visit  his  estates 
in  this  country,  preparatory  to  taking  up  a  residence  finally 
amongst  us.  If  report  speak  truly,  he  is  as  accomplished 
as  wealthy,  and  will  be  a  very  welcome  accession  to  the 
ranks  of  our  country  gentry.*" 


LOVE  V.  LAW.  71 

"How  strange  that  these  worthy  people  should  afifect  to 
know  or  care  anything  about  me  or  my  future  intentions," 
said  Cashel,  innocently. 

*'  Oh,  sir,  they  really  know  nothing,  — that  little  thing  is 
mine." 

* '  Yours,  —  how  yours  ?  " 

''  Why,  I  wrote  it,  sir.  When  I  lived  with  Sir  Giles 
Heathcote,  we  always  fired  off  a  certain  number  of  these 
signal-guns  when  we  came  to  a  new  place.  Once  the  thing 
was  set  a-going,  the  newspaper  fellows  followed  up  the  lead 
themselves.  They  look  upon  a  well-known  name  as  of  the 
same  value  as  a  fire  or  a  case  of  larceny.  I  have  known  a 
case  of  seduction  by  a  marquis  to  take  the  '  pas '  of  the  last 
murder  in  the  Edgware  Road. " 

"I  have  no  fancy  for  this  species  of  publicity,"  said 
Cashel,  seriously. 

"Believe  me,  sir,  there  is  nothing  to  be  done  without  it. 
The  Press,  sir,  is  the  fourth  estate.  They  can  ignore  any- 
thing nowadays,  from  a  speech  in  Parliament  to  the  last 
novel ;  from  the  young  beauty  just  come  out,  to  the  newly- 
launched  line-of-battle  ship.  A  friend  of  mine,  some  time 
back,  tried  the  thing  to  his  cost,  sir.  He  invented  an  admi- 
rable moustache-paste ;  he  even  paid  a  guinea  to  an  Oxford 
man  for  a  Greek  name  for  it ;  well,  sir,  he  would  not  adver- 
tise in  the  dailies,  but  only  in  bills.  Mark  the  consequence. 
One  of  the  morning  journals,  in  announcing  the  arrival  of 
the  Prince  of  Koemundkuttingen  on  a  visit  to  Colonel 
Sibthorp,  mentioned  that  in  the  fraternal  embrace  of  these 
two  distinguished  personages  their  moustaches,  anointed 
with  the  new  patent  adhesive  Eukautherostickostecon,  be- 
came actually  so  fastened  together  (as  the  fellow  said,  like 
two  clothes-brushes)  that  after  a  quarter  of  an  hour's  vain 
struggle  they  had  to  be  cut  asunder.  From  that  moment, 
sir,  the  paste  was  done  up ;  he  sold  it  as  harness  stuff  the 
week  after,  and  left  the  hair  and  beard  line  altogether." 

As  Cashel's  dressing  proceeded,  Mr.  Phillis  continued 
to  impose  upon  him  those  various  hints  and  suggestions 
respecting  costume  for  which  that  accomplished  gentleman's 
gentleman  was  renowned. 

"  Excuse  me,  but  you  are  not  going  to  wear  that  coat, 


72  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

I  hope.  A  morning  dress  should  always  incline  to  what 
artists  call  '  neutral  tints ;  '  there  should  also  be  nothing 
striking,  nothing  that  would  particularly  catch  the  eye, 
except  in  those  peculiar  cases  where  the  wearer,  adopting  a 
certain  color,  not  usually  seen,  adheres  strictly  to  it,  just 
as  we  see  my  Lord  Blenneville  with  his  old  coffee-colored 
cut-away,  and  Sir  Francis  Hemiug  with  his  light-blue  frock  ; 
Colonel  Mordaunt's  Hessians  are  the  same  kind  of  thing." 

''This  is  all  mere  trifling,"  said  Cashel,  impatiently;  "I 
don't  intend  to  dress  like  the  show-figure  in  a  tailor's  shop, 
to  be  stared  at." 

"Exactly  so,  sir;  that  is  what  I  have  been  saying:  any 
notoriety  is  to  be  avoided  where  a  gentleman  has  a  real 
position.  Now,  with  a  dark  frock,  gray  trousers,  and  this 
plain  single-breasted  vest,  your  costume  is  correct." 

If  Cashel  appeared  to  submit  to  these  dictations  with 
impatience,  he  really  received  them  as  laws  to  which  he 
was,  in  virtue  of  his  station,  to  be  bound.  He  had  taken 
Mr.  Phillis  exactly  as  he  had  engaged  the  services  of  a 
celebrated  French  cook,  as  a  person  to  whom  a  "  depart- 
ment "  was  to  be  intrusted ;  and  feeling  that  he  was  about 
to  enter  on  a  world  whose  habits  of  thinking  and  pre- 
judices were  all  strange,  he  resolved  to  accept  of  guidance, 
with  the  implicitness  that  he  would  have  shown  in  taking 
a  pilot  to  navigate  him  through  a  newly  visited  channel. 
Between  the  sense  of  submission,  and  a  certain  feeling 
of  shame  at  the  mock  importance  of  these  considerations, 
Cashel  exhibited  many  symptoms  of  impatience,  as  Mr. 
Phillis  continued  his  revelations  on  dress,  and  was  sincerely 
happy  when  that  refined  individual,  having  slowly  surveyed 
him,  pronounced  a  faint,  "  Yes,  very  near  it,"  and  withdrew. 

There  was  a  half  glimmering  suspicion,  like  a  struggling 
ray  of  sunlight  stealing  through  a  torn  and  ragged  cloud, 
breaking  on  Roland's  mind  that  if  wealth  were  to  entail 
a  great  many  requirements,  no  matter  how  small  each,  of 
obedience  to  the  world's  prescription,  that  he,  for  one, 
would  prefer  his  untrammelled  freedom  to  any  amount  of 
riches.  This  was  but  a  fleeting  doubt,  which  he  had  no 
time  to  dwell  upon,  for  already  he  was  informed  by  the 
butler  that  Mrs.  Kenny  feck  was  waiting  breakfast  for  him. 


LOVE   V.   LAW.  73 

Descending  the  stairs  rapidly,  he  had  just  reached  the 
landing  opposite  the  drawing-room,  when  he  heard  the 
sounds  of  a  guitar  accompaniment,  and  the  sweet  silvery 
tones  of  a  female  voice.  He  listened,  and  to  his  amaze- 
ment heard  that  the  singer  was  endeavoring,  and  with  con- 
siderable success,  too,  to  remember  his  own  Mexican  air 
that  he  had  sung  the  preceding  evening. 

Somehow,  it  struck  him  he  had  never  thought  the  melody 
so  pretty  before ;  there  was  a  tenderness  in  the  plaintive 
parts  he  could  not  have  conceived.  Not  so  the  singer ;  for 
after  a  few  efforts  to  imitate  one  of  Roland's  bolder  pas- 
sages, she  drew  her  finger  impatiently  across  the  chords,  and 
exclaimed,  "  It  is  of  no  use  ;  it  is  only  the  caballero  himself 
can  do  it." 

"Let  him  teach  you,  then!  "  cried  Cashel,  as  he  sprang 
into  the  room,  wild  with  delight. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Cashel,  what  a  start  you've  given  me!  "  said 
Olivia  Kennyfeck,  as,  covered  with  blushes,  and  ti'embling 
with  agitation,  she  leaned  on  the  back  of  a  chair. 

"  Oh,  pray  forgive  me,"  said  he,  eagerly  ;  "  but  I  was  so 
surprised,  so  delighted  to  hear  you  recalling  that  little  song, 
I  really  forgot  everything  else.    Have  I  startled  you,  then?  " 

"Oh,  no;  it's  nothing.  I  was  trying  a  few  chords.  I 
thought  I  was  quite  alone." 

"  But  you'll  permit  me  to  teach  you  some  of  our  Mexican 
songs,  won't  you?  I  should  be  so  charmed  to  hear  them 
sung  as  you  could  sing  them." 

"  It  is  too  kind  of  you,"  said  she,  timidly ;  "  but  I  am  no 
musician.  My  sister  is  a  most  skilful  performer,  but  I 
really  know  nothing ;  a  simple  ballad  and  a  canzonette  ai-e 
the  extent  of  my  efforts." 

"For  our  prairie  songs,  it  is  the  feeling  supplies  all  the 
character.  They  are  wild,  fanciful  things,  with  no  higher 
pretensions  than  to  recall  some  trait  of  the  land  they  belong 
to ;  and  I  should  be  so  flattered  if  you  would  take  an  interest 
in  the  Far  West." 

"  How  you  must  love  it!  How  you  must  long  to  return 
to  it ! "  said  Olivia,  raising  her  long  drooping  lashes,  and 
letting  her  eyes  rest,  with  an  expression  of  tender  melan- 
choly, on  Cashel. 


74  ROLAND   CASH  EL. 

What  he  might  have  said  there  is  no  guessing,  —  nay,  for 
his  sake,  and  for  hers  too,  it  is  better  not  even  to  speculate 
on  it ;  but  ere  he  could  reply,  another  speaker  joined  in  the 
colloquy,  saying,  — 

''  Good  morning,  Mr.  Cashel.  Pray  don't  forget,  when 
the  lesson  is  over,  that  we  are  waiting  breakfast."  So  say- 
ing, and  with  a  laugh  of  saucy  raillery.  Miss  Kenny  feck 
passed  down  the  stairs,  not  remaining  to  hear  his  answer. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Cashel!"  exclaimed  Olivia,  with  a  tone  half 
reproachful,  half  shy,  "we  shall  be  scolded,  —  at  least,  I 
shall,"  added  she.  "It  is  the  unforgivable  offence  in  this 
house  to  be  late  at  breakfast." 

Cashel  would  very  willingly  have  risked  all  the  conse- 
quences of  delay  for  a  few  minutes  longer  of  their  inter- 
view ;  but  already  she  had  tripped  on  downstairs,  and  with 
such  speed  as  to  enter  the  breakfast-parlor  a  few  seconds 
before  him.  Roland  was  welcomed  by  the  family  without 
the  slightest  shade  of  dissatisfaction  at  his  late  appearance, 
cordial  greetings  and  friendly  inquiries  as  to  how  he  had 
rested  pouring  in  on  every  side. 

"  What 's  to  be  done  with  Mr.  Cashel  to-day?  I  hope  he 
is  not  to  be  teased  by  business  people  and  red-tapery,"  said 
Mrs.  Kenny  feck  to  her  husband. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  said  the  silky  attorney,  "  I  am  very  much 
afraid  I  must  trespass  on  his  kindness  to  accompany  me  to 
the  Master's  office.  There  are  some  little  matters  which  will 
not  wait." 

"  Oh,  they  must,'*  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  peremptorily. 
"Who  is  the  Master, —Liddard,  isn't  it?  Well,  tell  him  to 
put  it  off;  Mr.  Cashel  must  really  have  a  little  peace  and 
quietness  after  all  his  fatigues." 

"It  will  only  take  an  hour,  at  most,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck," 
remonstrated  her  submissive  mate. 

"Well,  that  is  nothing,"  cried  Cashel.  "I'm  not  in  the 
least  tired,  and  the  day  is  long  enough  for  everything." 

"Then  we  have  a  little  affair  which  we  can  manage  at 
home  here  about  the  mortgages.     I  told  you  — " 

"I  believe  you  did,"  replied  Cashel,  laughing;  "but  I 
don't  remember  a  word  of  it.  It's  about  paying  some 
money,  is  n't  it  ?  " 


LOVE   V.  LAW.  75 

"  Yes,  it 's  the  redemption  of  two  very  heavy  claims,'* 
exclaimed  Kennyfeck,  perfectly  shocked  at  the  indifference 
displayed  by  the  young  man,  —  "claims  for  which  we  are 
paying  five  and  a  half  per  cent." 

"  And  it  would  be  better  to  clear  them  off?  "  said  Cashel, 
assuming  a  show  of  interest  in  the  matter  he  was  far  from 
feeling. 

"  Of  course  it  would.  There  is  a  very  large  sum  lying  to 
your  credit  at  Falkner's,  for  which  you  receive  only  three  per 
cent." 

"  Don't  you  perceive  how  tiresome  you  are,  dear  Mr. 
Kennyfeck?"  said  his  wife.  "Mr.  Cashel  is  bored  to 
death  with  all  this." 

"  Oh,  no!  not  in  the  least,  madam.  It  ought  to  interest 
me  immensely  ;  and  so  all  these  things  will,  I  'm  sure.  But  I 
was  just  thinking  at  what  hour  that  fellow  we  met  on  the 
packet  was  to  show  us  those  horses  he  spoke  of?" 

"  At  four,"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  with  a  half-sigh  of 
resignation  ;  "  but  you  '11  have  ample  time  for  that.  I  shall 
only  ask  you  to  attend  at  the  judge's  chambers  after  our 
consultation." 

"Well,  you  are  really  intolerable!"  cried  his  wife. 
*'  Why  cannot  you  and  Jones,  and  the  rest  of  you,  do  all  this 
tiresome  nonsense,  and  leave  Mr.  Cashel  to  us?  I  want  to 
bring  him  out  to  visit  two  or  three  people ;  and  the  gu'ls 
have  been  planning  a  canter  in  the  park." 

"The  canter,  by  all  means,"  said  Cashel.  "I'm  sure, 
my  dear  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  you'll  do  everything  far  better 
without  me.  I  have  no  head  for  anything  like  business ; 
and  so  pray,  let  me  accompany  the  riding-party." 

"  The  attendance  at  the  Master's  is  peremptory,"  sighed 
the  attorney,  —  "  there  is  no  deferring  that;  and  as  to  the 
mortgages,  the  funds  are  falling  every  hour.  I  should 
seriously  advise  selling  out  at  once." 

"  Well,  sell  out,  in  Heaven's  name !  Do  all  and  anything 
you  like,  and  I  promise  my  most  unqualified  satisfaction  at 
the  result." 

"  There,  now,"  interposed  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  authorita- 
tively, *' don't  worry  any  more;  you  see  how  tiresome  you 
are  I" 


76  ROLAND   CASIIEL. 

And  poor  Mr.  Kennyfeck  seemed  to  see  and  feel  it  too; 
for  he  hung  his  head,  and  sipped  his  tea  in  silence. 

"  To-day  we  dine  alone,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck; "but  to-morrow  I  will  try  to  show  you  some  of  the 
Dublin  notorieties,  —  at  least,  such  as  are  to  be  had  in  the 
season.  On  Friday  we  plan  a  little  country  party  into 
Wicklow,  and  hav^e  promised  to  keep  Saturday  free,  if  the 
Blackenburgs  want  us." 

"What  shall  we  say,  then,  about  Tubber-beg,  Mr. 
Cashel?"  said  Kennyfeck,  withdrawing  him  into  a  window- 
recess.     "  We  ought  to  give  the  answer  at  once." 

"  Faith  !  I  forgot  all  about  it,"  said  Cashel.  "  Is  that  the 
fishery  you  told  me  of?" 

"Oh,  no!  "  sighed  the  disconsolate  man  of  law.  "It's 
the  farm  on  the  terminable  lease,  at  present  held  by  Hugh 
Corrigan ;  he  asks  for  a  renewal." 

"  Well,  let  him  have  it,"  said  Cashel,  bluntly,  while  his 
eyes  were  turned  towards  the  fire,  where  the  two  sisters,  with 
arms  entwined,  stood  in  the  most  graceful  of  attitudes. 

"Yes,  but  have  you  considered  the  matter  maturely?" 
rejoined  Kennyfeck,  laying  his  hand  on  Cashel's  arm. 
"  Have  you  taken  into  account  that  he  only  pays  eight  and 
sevenpence  per  acre,  —  the  Irish  acre,  too,  —  and  that  a  con- 
siderable part  of  that  land  adjoining  the  Boat  Quay  is  let,  as 
building  plots,  for  two  and  sixpence  a  foot?" 

"  A  devilish  pretty  foot  it  is,  too,"  murmured  Cashel, 
musingly. 

"Eh!  what?"  exclaimed  Kennyfeck,  perfectly  mystified 
at  this  response. 

"Oh!  I  meant  that  I  agreed  with  you,"  rejoined  the 
young  man,  reddening,  and  endeavoring  to  appear  deeply 
interested.      "  I  quite  coincide  with  your  views,  sir." 

Kennyfeck  seemed  surprised  at  this,  for  he  had  not,  to  his 
knowledge,  ventured  on  any  opinion. 

"Perhaps,"  said  he,  taking  breath  for  a  last  etTort,  "if 
you  'd  kindly  look  at  the  map  of  the  estate,  and  just  see 
where  this  farm  trenches  on  your  own  limits,  you  could  judge 
better  about  the  propriety  of  the  renewal." 

"  Oh,  with  pleasure!"  exclaimed  Cashel,  while  he  suf- 
fered himself  to  be  led  into  the  study,  his  face  exhibiting 
very  indifferent  signs  of  satisfaction. 


LOVE  V.  LAW  77 

"Shall  we  assist  in  the  consultation,  Mr.  Cashel?"  said 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  smiling  in  reply  to  his  reluctant  look  at 
leaving. 

"Oh,  by  all  means!"  cried  he,  enthusiastically;  "do 
come,  and  give  me  your  advice.     Pray,  come." 

"Come,  girls,"  said  the  mother,  "although  I  perceive 
Mr.  Kennyfeck  is  terribly  shocked  at  the  bare  thought  of 
our  intrusion ;  but  be  of  good  courage,  we  only  accompany 
Mr.  Cashel  to  save  him  from  any  long  imprisonment." 
And  so  she  moved  majestically  forward,  her  daughters 
following  her. 

An  alchemist  would  probably  have  received  company  in 
his  laboratory,  or  a  hermit  admitted  a  jovial  party  in  his 
cell,  with  less  of  constraint  and  dissatisfaction  than  did  Mr. 
Kennyfeck  watch  the  approach  of  his  wife  and  daughters 
to  the  sanctum  of  his  study. 

Save  at  rare  intervals,  when  a  disconsolate  widow  had 
come  to  resolve  a  question  of  administration,  or  a  no  less 
forlorn  damsel  had  entered  to  consult  upon  an  action  for 
"  breach  of  promise,"  St.  Kevin  himself  had  never  been 
less  exposed  to  female  intervention.  It  needed,  then,  all 
his  reverence  and  fear  of  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  to  sustain  the 
shock  to  his  feelings,  as  he  saw  her  seat  herself  in  his  office- 
chair,  and  look  around  with  the  air  of  command  that  he 
alone  used  to  exhibit  in  these  regions. 

"  Now  for  this  same  map,  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  and  let  us 
hear  the  question  for  which  this  Privy  Council  has  been 
convened." 

"This  is  the  map,"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  unfolding  a 
large  scroll,  "  and  I  believe  a  single  glance  will  enable  Mr. 
Cashel  to  perceive  that  some  little  deliberation  would  be 
advisable  before  continuing  in  possession  a  tenant  whose 
holding  completely  destroys  the  best  feature  of  the  demesne. 
This  red  line  here  is  your  boundary  towards  the  Limerick 
road ;  here,  stands  the  house,  which,  from  the  first,  was  a 
great  mistake.  It  is  built  in  a  hollow  without  a  particle 
of  view ;  whereas,  had  it  been  placed  here,  where  this  cross 
is  marked,  the  prospect  would  have  extended  over  the  whole 
of  Scariff  Bay,  and  by  the  west,  down  to  Killaloe." 

"Well,  what's  to  prevent  our    building    it   there   yet?" 


7d  KOLA>:b   CASUAL. 

interrupted  Cashel.  "  T  think  it  would  be  rare  fun  build- 
ing a  house,  —  at  least  if  I  may  judge  from  all  the  amuse- 
ment I've  had  in  constructing  one  of  leaves  and  buffalo- 
hides,  in  the  prairies." 

Mrs.  Kennyfeck  and  her  eldest  daughter  smiled  their 
blandest  approbation,  while  Olivia  murmured  in  her  sister's 
ear,  ''Oh,  dear,  he  is  so  very  natural,  isn't  he?" 

"That  will  be  a  point  for  ulterior  consideration,"  said 
Mr.  Kennyfeck,  who  saw  the  danger  of  at  all  wandering 
from  the  topic  in  hand.  "  Give  me  j^our  attention  now 
for  one  moment,  Mr.  Cashel.  Another  inconvenience  in 
the  situation  of  the  present  house  is,  that  it  stands  scarcely 
a  thousand  yards  from  this  red-and-yellow  line  here." 

"Well,  what  is  that?"  inquired  Cashel,  who  already 
began  to  feel  interested  in  the  localities. 

"This  —  and  pray  observe  it  well,  sir — this  red-and- 
yellow  line,  enclosing  a  tract  which  borders  on  the  Shannon, 
and  runs,  as  you  may  remark,  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
demesne,  this  is  Tubber-beg,  the  farm  in  question, — not 
only  encroaching  upon  your  limits,  but  actually  cutting  you 
off  from  the  river,  —  at  least,  your  access  is  limited  to  a 
very  circuitous  road,  and  which  opens  upon  a  very  shallow 
part  of  the  stream." 

"And  who  or  what  is  this  tenant?"    asked  Cashel. 

"  His  name  is  Corrigan,  a  gentleman  by  birth,  but  of  a 
very  limited  fortune ;  he  is  now  an  old  man,  upwards  of 
seventy,  I  understand." 

"And  how  came  it  that  he  ever  obtained  possession  of 
a  tract  so  circumstanced,  marring,  as  you  most  justly 
observe,  the  whole  character  of  the  demesne  ?  " 

"That  would  be  a  long  story,  sir;  enough,  if  I  mention 
that  his  ancestors  were  the  ancient  owners  of  the  entire 
estate,  which  was  lost  by  an  act  of  confiscation  in  the  )^ear 
forty-five.  Some  extenuating  circumstances,  however,  in- 
duced the  Government  to  confer  upon  a  younger  branch 
of  the  family  a  lease  of  this  small  tract  called  Tubber-beg, 
to  distinguish  it  from  Tubbermore,  the  larger  portion  ;  and 
this  lease  it  is  whose  expiration,  in  a  few  years,  induces 
the  present  query." 

"  Has  Mr.  Corrioan  children?  " 


LOVE  V.  LAW.  79 

*'  No;  his  only  child,  a  daughter,  is  dead,  but  a  grand- 
daughter lives  now  with  the  old  man." 

"  Then  what  is  it  he  asks?  Is  it  a  renewal  of  the  lease, 
on  the  former  terms  ?  " 

*'  Why,  not  precisely.  I  believe  he  would  be  willing  to 
pay  more." 

"That's  not  what  I  mean,"  replied  Cashel,  reddening; 
''  I  ask,  what  terms  as  to  time,  he  seeks  for.  Would  it 
content  him  to  have  the  land  for  his  own  life?  " 

"  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  you  are  really  very  culpable  to  leave 
Mr.  Cashel  to  the  decision  of  matters  of  this  kind,  —  matters 
in  which  his  kindliness  of  heart  and  inexperience  will  always 
betray  him  into  a  forgetfulness  of  his  own  interest.  What 
has  Mr.  Cashel  to  think  about  this  old  creature's  ancestors, 
who  were  rebels,  it  appears,  or  his  daughter,  or  his  grand- 
daughter? Here  is  a  simple  question  of  a  farm,  which 
actually  makes  the  demesne  worthless,  and  which,  by  a 
singular  piece  of  good  fortune,  is  in  Mr.  Cashel's  power  to 
secure." 

"This  is  a  very  correct  view,  doubtless,"  said  her  meek 
husband,  submissively,  "  but  we  should  also  remember  —  " 

"  We  have  nothing  to  remember,"  interrupted  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck, stoutly;  "nothing,  save  his  interests,  who,  as  I  have 
observed,  is  of  too  generous  a  nature  to  be  trusted  with 
such  matters." 

"Is  there  no  other  farm,  —  have  we  nothing  on  the 
property  he  'd  like  as  well  as  this?  "  asked  Cashel. 

"  I  fear  not.  The  attachment  to  a  place  inhabited  for 
centuries  by  his  ancestry  —  " 

"  By  his  fiddlestick!  "  struck  in  Mrs.  Kennyfeck;  "  two 
and  sixpence  an  acre  difference  would  be  all  the  necessary 
compensation.  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  how  can  you  trifle  in  this 
manner,  when  you  know  how  it  will  injure  the  demesne !  " 

"  Oh,  ruin  it  utterly!  "  exclaimed  Miss  Kennyfeck. 

"  It  completely  cuts  off  the  beautiful  river  and  those 
dear  islands,"  said  Olivia. 

"  So  it  does,"  said  Cashel,  musing. 

"I  wonder  are  they  wooded?  I  declare  I  believe  they 
are.  Papa,  are  these  little  scrubby  things  meacit  to  repre- 
sent trees?  " 


80  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"  Oaks  and  chestnut- trees,"  responded  Mr.  Kenny  feck, 
gravely. 

"Oh,  how  I  should  love  a  cottage  on  that  island,  —  a  real 
Swiss  cottage,  with  its  carved  galleries  and  deep-eaved  roof. 
Who  owns  these  delicious  islands?" 

*'Mr.  Cashel,  my  dear,"  said  papa,  still  bent  on  examin- 
ing the  map. 

"  Do  I,  indeed !  "  cried  Roland,  in  an  ecstasy.  "  Then 
you  shall  have  your  wish,  Miss  Kennyfeck.  I  promise 
you  the  prettiest  Swiss  cottage  that  your  own  taste  can 
devise." 

''  Oh,  dear,  oh,  pray  forgive  me !  " 

''Oh,  Mr.  Roland  Cashel,  don't  think  of  such  a  thing! 
Olivia  was  merely  speaking  at  random.  How  silly,  child, 
you  are  to  talk  that  way !  " 

"Really,  mamma,  I  had  not  the  slightest  suspicion  —  I 
would  n't  for  the  world  have  said  anything  if  I  thought — " 

"Of  course  not,  dear;  but  pray  be  guarded.  Indeed,  I 
own  I  never  did  hear  you  make  a  lapse  of  the  kind  before. 
But  you  see,  Mr.  Cashel,  you  have  really  made  us  forget 
that  we  were  strangers  but  yesterday,  and  you  are  paying 
the  penalty  of  your  own  exceeding  kindness.  Forget,  then, 
I  beseech  you,  this  first  transgression." 

"  I  shall  assuredly  keep  my  promise,  madam,"  said  Cashel, 
proudly;  "and  I  have  only  to  hope  Miss  Kennyfeck  will 
not  offend  me  by  declining  so  very  humble  a  present.  Now, 
sir,  for  our  worthy  friend  Mr.  Corrigan." 

"Too  fast,  a  great  deal  to  fast,  love,"  whispered  the 
elder  sister  in  the  ear  of  the  younger,  and  who,  to  the  credit 
of  her  tact  and  ingenuity  be  it  spoken,  only  gave  the  most 
heavenly  smile  in  reply. 

"I  really  am  puzzled,  sir,  what  advice  to  give,"  said  the 
attorney,  musing. 

"  I  have  no  difficulties  of  this  sentimental  kind,"  said  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  with  a  glance  of  profound  depreciation  towards 
her  husband ;  "  and  I  beg  Mr.  Cashel  to  remember  that  the 
opportunity  now  offered  will  possibly  never  occur  again. 
If  the  old  man  is  to  retain  his  farm,  of  course  Mr.  Cashel 
would  not  think  of  building  a  new  mansion,  which  must  be 
ill-circumstanced ;    from  what   I  can   hear   of   the   present 


LOVE  V.  LAW  81 

house,  it  is  equally  certain  that  he  would  not  reside  in 
that." 

"  Is  it  so  very  bad?  "  asked  Cashel,  smiling. 

*'It  was  ill-planned  originally,  added  to  in,  if  possible, 
worse  taste,  and  then  suffered  to  fall  into  ruin.  It  is  now 
something  more  than  eighty  years  since  it  saw  any  other 
inhabitant  than  a  caretaker." 

''Well,  the  picture  is  certainly  not  seductive.  I  rather 
opine  that  the  best  thing  we  can  do  is  to  throw  this  old 
rumbling  concern  down,  at  all  events ;  and  now  once  more, 

—  what  shall  we  do  with  Mr.  Corrigan?  " 

"I  should  advise  you  not  giving  any  reply  before  you 
visit  the  property  yourself.  All  business  matters  will  be 
completed  here,  I  trust,  by  Saturday.  What,  then,  if  we 
go  over  on  Monday  to  Tubbermore  ? " 

"Agreed.     I  have  a  kind  of  anxiety  to  look  at  the  place, 

—  indeed,  a  mere  glance  would  decide  me  if  I  ever  care  to 
return  to  it  again." 

"  Then,  I  perceive,  our  counsel  is  of  no  avail  here," 
said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  rising,  with  a  very  ill-concealed 
chagrin. 

"  Nay,  madam,  don't  say  so.  You  never  got  so  far  as  to 
give  it,"  cried  Cashel. 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  forget  that  I  said  it  would  be  absurd  to 
hesitate  about  resuming  possession." 

"Unquestionably,"  echoed  Miss  Kennyfeck.  "It  is 
merely  to  indulge  an  old  man's  caprice  at  the  cost  of  your 
own  comfort  and  convenience." 

"  But  he  may  cling  to  the  spot,  sister  dear,"  said  Olivia, 
in  an  accent  only  loud  enough  to  be  audible  by  Cashel. 

"  You  are  right,"  said  Roland,  in  her  ear,  with  a  look  that 
spoke  his  approval  far  more  eloquently. 

Although  Miss  Kennyfeck  had  heard  nothing  that  passed, 
her  quickness  detected  the  looks  of  intelligence  that  were 
so  speedily  interchanged,  and  as  she  left  the  room  she  took 
occasion  to  whisper,  "Do  take  advice,  dear;  there  is  no 
keeping  up  a  pace  like  that." 

VOL.  I.  —  6 


CHAPTER  IX. 

AN   EXCITING    ADVENTURE. 

•*  Bravo,  Toro." 

As  it  chanced  that  many  of  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  clients  were 
Western  gentlemen,  whose  tastes  have  an  unequivocal  ten- 
dency to  all  matters  relating  to  horse-flesh,  his  stable  was 
not  less  choicel}"  furnished  than  his  cellar;  for,  besides 
being  always  able  to  command  the  shrewdest  judgments 
when  he  decided  to  make  a  purchase,  many  an  outstanding 
balance  of  long  duration,  many  a  debt  significantly  pencilled 
*' doubtful  "  or  "bad,"  in  his  note-book,  was  cleared  off 
by  some  tall,  sinewy  steeplechaser  from  Galway,  or  some 
redoubted  performer  with  the  "  Blazers." 

So  well  known  was  this  fact  that  several  needed  no  other 
standard  of  a  neighbor's  circumstances,  than  whether  he  had 
contributed  or  not  to  the  Kennyfeck  stud.  This  brief  ex- 
planation we  have  been  induced  to  make,  to  account  for 
the  sporting  character  of  a  stable  whose  proprietor  never 
was  once  seen  in  the  saddle.  Far  otherwise  the  ladies  of 
the  house ;  the  mother  and  daughters,  but  in  particular  the 
elder,  rode  with  all  the  native  grace  of  Galway ;  and  as  they 
were  invariably  well  mounted,  and  their  grooms  the  smartest 
and  best  appointed,  their  "turn-out"  was  the  admiration  of 
the  capital. 

It  was  in  vain  that  the  English  officials  at  the  Castle, 
whose  superlative  tastes  were  wont  to  overshadow  mere 
Irish  pretension,  endeavored  to  compete  with  these  noted 
equestrians.  Secretaries'  wives  and  chamberlains'  daughters, 
however  they  might  domineer  in  other  matters,  were  here, 
at  least,  surpassed,  and  it  was  a  conceded  fact,  that  the 
Kennyfecks  rode  better,  dressed  better,  and  looked  better 


AN   EXCITING   ADVENTURE.  83 

on  horseback  than  any  other  gh'ls  in  the  country.  If  all 
the  critics  as  to  horsemanship  pronounced  the  elder  unequi- 
vocally the  superior  rider,  mere  admirers  of  gracefulness 
preferred  the  younger  sister,  who,  less  courageous  and  self- 
possessed,  invested  her  skill  with  a  certain  character  of 
timidity  that  increased  the  interest  her  appearance  excited. 

They  never  rode  out  without  an  immense  cortege  of  follow- 
ers, every  well-looking  and  well-mounted  man  about  town 
deeming  it  his  devoir  to  join  this  party,  just  as  the  box 
of  the  reigning  belle  at  the  opera  is  besieged  by  assiduous 
visitors.  The  very  being  seen  in  this  train  was  a  kind  of 
brevet  promotion  in  fashionable  esteem,  to  which  each  newly- 
arrived  cornet  aspired,  and  thus  the  party  usually  presented 
a  group  of  brilliant  uniforms  and  dancing  plumes  that  rivalled 
in  brilliancy,  and  far  excelled  in  amusement,  the  staff  of  the 
viceroy  himself. 

It  would  be  unfair  to  suppose  that,  with  all  their  natural 
innocence  and  artlessness,  they  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the 
sway  they  thus  exercised  ;  indeed,  such  a  degree  of  modesty 
would  have  trenched  upon  the  incredulous,  for  how  could 
they  doubt  what  commanders  of  the  forces  and  deputy- 
assistant-adjutants  assured  them,  still  less  question  the 
veracity  of  a  prince  royal,  who  positively  asserted  that  they 
**  rode  better  than  Quentin's  daughter"? 

It  was  tlius  a  source  of  no  small  excitement  among  the 
mounted  loungers  of  the  capital,  when  the  Kennyfecks 
issued  forth  on  horseback,  and  not,  as  usual,  making  the 
tour  of  the  "  Square  "  to  collect  their  forces,  they  rode  at 
once  down  Grafton  Street,  accompanied  by  a  single  cavalier. 

"Who  have  the  Kenny  feck  girls  got  with  them?"  said 
a  thin-waisted-looking  aide-de-camp  to  a  lanky,  well- 
whiskered  fellow  in  a  dragoon  undress,  at  the  Castle  gate. 

"He  is  new  to  me  —  never  saw  him  before.  I  say, 
Lucas,  who  is  that  tall  fellow  on  Kennyfeck's  brown  horse 
—  do  you  know  him?" 

''Don't  know  —  can't  say,"  drawled  out  a  very  diminu- 
tive hussar  cornet. 

"  He  has  a  look  of  Merrington,"  said  another,  joining  the 
party. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it;  he  's  much  larger.     I  should  n't  wonder 


84  ROLAND  CASHEL 

if  he 's  one  of  the  Esterhazys  they  've  caught.  There  is 
one  of  them  over  here  —  a  Paul  or  a  Nicholas,  of  the 
younger  branch ;  —  but  here  's  Linton,  he  '11  tell  us,  if  any 
man  can," 

This  speech  was  addressed  to  a  very  dapper,  well-dressed 
man  of  about  thirty,  mounted  on  a  small  thoroughbred  pony, 
whose  splashed  and  heaving  tlanks  bespoke  a  hasty  ride. 

*'  I  say,  Tom,  you  met  the  Keunyfecks,  — who  was  that 
with  them?" 

'*  Don't  you  know  him,  my  Lord?"  said  a  sharp,  ringing 
voice;  "that's  our  newly-arrived  millionuaire, —  Roland 
Cashel,  our  Tipperary  Crot;sus,  —  the  man  with  I  won't 
say  how  many  hundred  thousands  a  year,  and  millions  in 
bank  besides." 

"  The  devil  it  is  —  a  good-looking  fellow,  too." 

"  Spooney,  I  should  say,"  drawled  out  the  hussar,  caress- 
ing his  moustache. 

*'  One  need  n't  be  as  smart  a  fellow  as  you,  Wheeler,  with 
forty  thousand  a  year,"  said  Linton,  with  a  sly  glance  at  the 
others. 

"You  don't  suppose,  Tom,"  said  the  former  speaker, 
"  that  the  Kennyfecks  have  any  designs  in  that  quarter, — 
egad  !  that  would  be  rather  aspiring,  eh  ?  " 

"  Very  unwise  in  us  to  permit  it,  my  Lord,"  said  Linton, 
in  a  low  tone.  "That's  a  dish  will  bear  carving,  and  let 
every  one  have  his  share." 

My  Lord  laughed  with  a  low  cunning  laugh  at  the  sug- 
gestion, and  nodded  an  easy  assent. 

Meanwhile  the  Kennyfecks  rode  slowly  on,  and  crossing 
Essex  Bridge  continued  their  way  at  a  foot  pace  towards 
the  park,  passing  in  front  of  the  Four  Courts,  where  a  very 
large  knot  of  idlers  uncovered  their  heads  in  polite  saluta- 
tion as  they  went. 

"  That 's  Kennyfeck's  newly-discovered  client,"  cried  one ; 
"a  great  card,  if  they  can  only  secure  him  for  one  of  the 
girls." 

"  I  say,  did  you  remark  how  the  eldest  had  him  engaged? 
She  never  noticed  any  of  us." 

"  I  back  Olivia,"  said  another;  "she's  a  quiet  one,  but 
devilish  sly  for  all  that." 


AN  EXCITING  ADVENTURE.  85 

''Depend  upon  it,"  interposed  an  older  speaker,  "the 
fellow  is  up  to  all  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  Jones  met  him  at  dinner  yesterday  at  Kenny  feck's,  and 
says  he  is  a  regular  soft  one,  and  if  the  girls  don't  run  an 
opposition  to  each  other,  one  is  sure  to  win." 

*'  Wliy  not  toss  up  for  him,  then?  that  would  be  fairer." 

"  Ay,  and  more  sisterly,  too,"  said  the  elder  speaker. 
*'  Jones  would  be  right  glad  to  claim  the  beaten  horse." 

"Jones,  indeed,  — I  can  tell  you  they  detest  Jones,"  said 
a  young  fellow. 

''They  told  you  so,  eh,  Hammond?"  said  another;  while 
a  very  hearty  laugh  at  the  discomfited  youth  broke  from 
the  remainder. 

And  now  to  follow  our  mounted  friends,  who,  having 
reached  the  park,  continued  still  at  a  walking  pace  to  thread 
the  greasy  paths  that  led  through  that  pleasant  tract ;  now 
hid  amid  the  shade  of  ancient  thorn-trees,  now  gaining  the 
open  expanse  of  plain  with  its  bold  background  of  blue 
mountains. 

From  the  evident  attention  bestowed  by  the  two  sisters, 
it  was  clear  that  Cashel  was  narrating  something  of  inter- 
est, for  he  spoke  of  an  event  which  had  happened  to  him- 
self in  his  prairie  life ;  and  this  alone,  independent  of  all 
else,  was  enough  to  make  the  theme  amusing. 

"Does  this  convey  any  idea  of  a  prairie,  Mr.  Cashel?" 
said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  as  they  emerged  from  a  grove  of 
beech-trees,  and  came  upon  the  wide  and  stretching  plain, 
so  well  known  to  Dubliners  as  the  Fifteen  Acres,  but  which 
is,  in  reality,  nmch  greater  in  extent.  "  I  have  always  fan- 
cied this  great  grassy  expanse  must  be  like  a  prairie." 

"About  as  like  as  yonder  cattle  to  a  herd  of  wild  butfa- 
loes,"  replied  Roland,  smiling. 

"Then  what  is  a  prairie  like?  Do  tell  us,"  said  Olivia, 
eagerly. 

"  I  can  scarcely  do  so,  nor,  if  I  were  a  painter,  do  I 
suppose  that  I  could  make  a  picture  of  one,  because  it  is 
less  the  presence  than  the  total  absence  of  all  features  of 
landscape  that  constitutes  the  wild  and  lonely  solitude  of 
a  prairie.  But  fancy  a  great  plain  —  gently  —  very  gently 
undulating, —  not  a  tree,  not  a  shrub,  not  a  stream  to  break 


86  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

the  dreary  uniformity;  sometimes,  but  even  that  rarely,  o 
little  muddy  pond  of  rain-water,  stagnant  and  yellow,  is 
met  with,  but  only  seen  soon  after  heavy  showers,  for  the 
hot  sun  rapidly  absorbs  it.  The  only  vegetation  a  short 
yellowed  burnt-up  grass,  —  not  a  wild  flower  or  a  daisy,  if 
you  travelled  hundreds  of  hundreds  of  miles.  On  you  go, 
days  and  days,  but  the  scene  never  changes.  Large  cloud 
shadows  rest  upon  the  barren  expanse,  and  move  slowly  and 
sluggishly  away,  or  sometimes  a  sharp  and  pelting  shower  is 
borne  along,  traversing  hundreds  of  miles  in  its  course ;  but 
these  are  the  only  traits  of  motion  in  the  death-lil?:e  stillness. 
At  last,  perhaps  after  weeks  of  wandering,  you  descry,  a 
long  way  off,  some  dark  objects  dotting  the  surface,  —  these 
are  buffaloes ;  or  at  sunset,  when  the  thin  atmosphere  makes 
everything  sharp  and  distinct,  some  black  spectral  shapes 
seem  to  glide  between  you  and  the  red  twilight,  —  these  are 
Indian  hunters,  seen  miles  off,  and  by  some  strange  law  of 
nature  they  are  presented  to  the  vision  when  far,  far  beyond 
the  range  of  sight.  Such  strange  apparitions,  the  conse- 
quence of  refraction,  have  led  to  the  most  absurd  supersti- 
tions ;  and  all  the  stories  the  Germans  tell  you  of  their  wild 
huntsmen  are  nothing  to  the  tales  every  trapper  can  recount 
of  war  parties  seen  in  the  air,  and  tribes  of  red  men  in 
pursuit  of  deer  and  buffaloes,  through  the  clear  sky  of  an 
autumn  evening." 

"  And  have  you  yourself  met  with  these  wild  children 
of  the  desert?"  said  Olivia;  ''  have  you  ever  been  amongst 
them?" 

"  Somewhat  longer  than  I  fancied,"  replied  Roland,  smil- 
ing.     "I  was  a  prisoner  once  with  the  Camanches." 

"Oh,  let  us  hear  all  about  it,  —  how  did  it  happen?" 
cried  both  together. 

"  It  happened  absurdly  enough,  at  least  you  will  say  so, 
when  I  tell  you ;  but  to  a  prairie-hunter  the  adventure 
would  seem  nothing  singular.  It  chanced  that  some  years 
ago  I  made  one  of  a  hunting-party  into  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  finally  as  far  as  Pueblo  Santo,  the  last  station 
before  entering  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Camanches,  a 
very  fierce  tribe,  and  one  with  whom  all  the  American  trad- 
ers have  failed  to  establish  any  relations  of  friendship  or 


AN  EXCITING  ADVENTURE.  87 

commerce.  They  care  nothing  for  the  inventions  of  civili- 
zation, and,  unlike  all  other  Indians,  prefer  their  own  bows 
and  arrows  to  firearms. 

"  We  had  been  now  four  days  within  their  boundary,  and 
yet  never  met  one  of  the  tribe.  Some  averred  that  they 
always  learned  by  the  scouts  whenever  any  invasion  took 
place,  and  retired  till  they  were  in  sufficient  force  to  pour 
down  and  crush  the  intruders.  Others,  who  proved  better 
informed,  said  that  they  were  hunting  in  a  remote  tract, 
several  days'  journey  distant.  We  were  doubly  disap- 
pointed, for  besides  not  seeing  the  Camanches,  for  which 
we  had  a  great  curiosity,  we  did  not  discover  any  game. 
The  two  or  three  trails  we  followed  led  to  nothing,  nor  could 
a  hoof-track  be  seen  for  miles  and  miles  of  prairie.  In  this 
state  of  discomfiture,  we  were  sitting  one  evening  around 
our  fires,  and  debating  with  ourselves  whether  to  turn  back 
or  go  on,  when,  the  dispute  waxing  warm  between  those  of 
different  opinions,  I,  who  hated  all  disagreements  of  the 
kind,  slipped  quietly  away,  and  throwing  the  bridle  on  my 
horse,  I  set  out  for  a  solitary  ramble  over  ^he  prairie. 

"I  have  the  whole  scene  before  me  this  instant, —  the 
solemn  desolation  of  that  dreary  track ;  for  scarcely  had  I 
gone  a  mile  over  what  seemed  a  perfectly  level  plain,  when 
the  swelling  inequalities  of  the  ground  shut  out  the  watch- 
fires  of  my  companions,  and  now  there  was  nothing  to  be 
seen  but  the  vast  expanse  of  land  and  sky,  each  colored 
with  the  same  dull  leaden  tint  of  coming  night;  no  horizon 
was  visible,  not  a  star  appeared,  and  in  the  midst  of  this 
gray  monotony,  a  stillness  prevailed  that  smote  the  heart 
with  something  more  appalling  than  mere  fear.  No  storm 
that  ever  I  listened  to  at  sea,  not  the  loudest  thunder  that 
ever  crashed,  or  the  heaviest  sea  that  ever  broke  upon  a 
leeward  shore  at  midnight,  ever  chilled  my  blood  like  that 
terrible  stillness.  I  thought  that  the  dreadful  roll  of  an 
avalanche  or  the  heaving  ground-swell  of  an  earthquake 
had  been  easier  to  bear.  I  believe  I  actually  prayed  .for 
something  like  sound  to  relieve  the  horrible  tension  of  my 
nerves,  when,  just  as  if  my  wish  was  heard,  a  low  booming 
sound,  like  the  sea  within  a  rocky  cavern,  came  borne  along 
on  the  night  wind.     Then  it  lulled  again,  and  after  a  time 


88  ROLAND  CASH  EL. 

grew  louder.  This  happened  two  or  three  times,  so  that, 
half  suspecting  some  self-delusion,  I  stopped  my  ears,  and 
then  on  removing  my  hands,  I  heard  the  noise  increasing 
till  it  swelled  into  one  dull  roaring  sound,  that  made  the 
very  air  vibrate.  I  thought  it  must  be  an  earthquake,  of 
which  it  is  said  many  occur  in  these  regions,  but,  from  the 
dreary  uniformity,   leave  no  trace  behind. 

"I  resolved  to  regain  my  companions  at  once;  danger  is 
always  easier  to  confront  in  company,  and  so  I  turned  my 
horse's  head  to  go  back.  The  noise  was  now  deafening, 
and  so  stunning  that  the  very  ground  seemed  to  give  it 
forth.  My  poor  horse  became  terrified,  his  flanks  heaved, 
and  he  labored  in  his  stride  as  if  overcome  by  fatigue. 
This  again  induced  me  to  suspect  an  earthquake,  for  I 
knew  by  what  singular  instincts  animals  are  apprised  of  its 
approach.  I  therefore  gave  him  the  spur,  and  urged  him 
on  with  every  effort,  when  suddenly  he  made  a  tremendous 
bound  to  one  side,  and  set  off  with  the  speed  of  a  racer. 
Stretched  to  his  fullest  stride,  I  was  perfectly  powerless  to 
restrain  him;  meanwhile,  the  loud  thundering  sounds  filled 
the  entire  air,  — more  deafening  than  the  greatest  artillery; 
the  crashing  uproar  smote  my  ears,  and  made  my  brain 
ring  with  the  vibration,  and  then  suddenly  the  whole  plain 
grew  dark  behind  and  at  either  side  of  me,  the  shadow  swept 
on  and  on,  nearer  and  nearer,  as  the  sounds  increased,  till 
the  black  surface  seemed,  as  it  were,  about  to  close  around 
me;  and  now  I  perceived  that  the  great  prairie,  far  as  my 
eyes  could  stretch,  was  covered  by  a  herd  of  wild  buffaloes ; 
struck  by  some  sudden  terror,  they  had  taken  what  is  called 
'the  Stampedo,'  and  set  out  at  full  speed.  In  an  instant 
they  were  around  me  on  every  side,  —  a  great  moving  sea 
of  dark-backed  monsters, — roaring  in  terrible  uproar,  and 
tossing  their  savage  heads  wildly  to  and  fro,  in  all  the 
paroxysm  of  terror.  To  return,  or  even  to  extricate  myself, 
was  impossible ;  the  dense  mass  pressed  like  a  wall  at  either 
side  of  me,  and  I  was  borne  along  in  the  midst  of  the 
heaving  herd,  witliout  the  slightest  hope  of  rescue.  I  can- 
not —  you  would  not  ask  me,  if  even  I  could  —  recall  the 
terrors  of  that  dreadful  night,  which  in  its  dark  hours  com- 
passed the  agonies  of  years.     Until  the  moon  got  up,   I 


AN   EXCITING   ADVENTURE.  89 

hoped  that  the  herd  might  pass  on,  and  at  last  leave  me 
at  liberty  behind;  but  when  she  rose,  and  I  looked  back, 
1  saw  the  dark  sea  of  hides,  as  if  covering  the  whole  wide 
prairie,  while  the  deep  thunder  from  afar  mingled  with  the 
louder  bellowing  of  the  herd  around  me. 

"I  suppose  my  reeling  brain  became  maddened  by  the 
excitement;  for  even  yet,  when  by  any  accident  I  suffer 
slight  illness,  terrible  fancies  of  that  dreadful  scene  come 
back;  and  I  have  been  told  that,  in  my  wild  cries  and 
shouts,  I  seem  encouraging  and  urging  on  the  infuriate 
herd,  and  by  my  gestures  appearing  to  control  and  direct 
their  headlong  course.  Had  it  been  possible,  I  believe  I 
should  have  thrown  myself  to  the  earth  and  sought  death  at 
once,  even  in  this  dreadful  form,  than  live  to  die  the  thou- 
sand deaths  of  agony  that  night  inflicted;  but  this  could 
not  be,  and  so,  as  day  broke,  I  was  still  carried  on,  not, 
indeed,  with  the  same  speed  as  before;  weariness  weighed 
on  the  vast  moving  mass,  but  the  pressure  of  those  behind 
still  drove  them  onward.  I  thought  the  long  hours  of 
darkness  were  terrible;  and  the  appalling  gloom  of  night 
added  tortures  to  my  sufferings;  but  the  glare  of  daylight, 
the  burning  sun,  and  the  clouds  of  dust  were  still  worse. 
I  remember,  too,  when  exhaustion  had  nearly  spent  my  last 
frail  energy,  and  when  my  powerless  hands,  letting  fall  the 
bridle,  dropped  heavily  to  my  side,  that  the  herd  suddenly 
halted,  — halted,  as  if  arrested  by  some  gigantic  hand;  and 
then  the  pressure  became  so  dreadful  that  my  bones  seemed 
almost  bursting  from  my  flesh,  and  I  screamed  aloud  in  my 
agony.  After  this,  I  remember  little  else.  The  other 
events  of  that  terrible  ride  are  like  the  shadowy  spectres  of 
a  magic  lantern;  vague  memories  of  sufferings,  pangs  tluii 
even  yet  chill  my  blood,  steal  over  me,  but  unconnected 
and  incoherent,  so  that  when,  as  I  afterwards  heard,  the 
herd  dashed  into  the  Camanche  encampment,  I  have  no 
recollection  of  anything,  except  the  terror-struck  faces  of 
the  red  men,  as  they  bent  before  me,  and  seemed  to  wor- 
ship me  as  a  deity.  Yes,  this  terrible  tribe,  who  had 
scarcely  ever  been  known  to  spare  a  white  man,  not  only 
did  not  injure,  but  they  treated  me  with  the  tenderest  care 
and  attention.     A  singular  incident  had  favored  me.     One 


90  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

of  the  wise  men  had  foretold  some  days  before  that  a  herd 
of  wild  buffaloes,  sent  by  their  god,  Anadongu,  would 
speedily  appear,  and  rescue  the  tribe  from  the  horrors  of 
impending  starvation.  The  prediction  was  possibly  based 
upon  some  optical  delusion,  like  that  I  have  mentioned. 
Whatever  its  origin,  the  accomplishment  was  hailed  with 
ecstasy;  and  I  myself,  a  poor,  almost  dying  creature, 
stained  with  blood,  crushed  and  speechless,  was  regarded 
as  their  deliverer  and  preserver." 

"How  long  did  you  remain  amongst  them?"  cried  Miss 
Kennyfeck. 

"And  how  did  you  escape?  "  asked  Olivia. 

"Were  they  always  equally  kind?  " 

"  Were  you  sorry  to  leave  them  ?  "  were  the  questions 
rapidly  poured  in  ere  Cashel  could  reply  to  any  one  of 
them. 

"I  have  often  heard,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  "that  the 
greater  mental  ability  of  the  white  man  is  certain  to  secure 
him  an  ascendancy  over  the  minds  of  savage  tribes,  and 
that,  if  he  be  spared  at  first,  he  is  sure  in  the  end  to  become 
their  chief." 

"I  believe  they  actually  worship  any  display  of  intelli- 
gence  above  their  own,"  said  Olivia. 

"These  are  exaggerated  accounts,"  said  Cashel,  smiling. 
"Marriage  is,  among  savage  as  among  civilized  nations,  a 
great  stepping-stone  to  eminence.  When  a  white  man  is 
allied  with  a  princess  —  " 

"Oh,  how  shocking!"  cried  both  together.  "I  *m  sure 
no  person,  anything  akin  to  a  gentleman,  could  dream  of 
such  a  thing,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck. 

"It  happens  now  and  then,  notwithstanding,"  said  Cashel, 
with  a  most  provoking  gravity. 

While  the  sisters  would  have  been  well  pleased  had 
Cashel's  personal  revelations  continued  on  this  theme,  they 
did  not  venture  to  explore  so  dangerous  a  path,  and  were 
both  silent.  Roland,  too,  ap])eared  buried  in  some  recol- 
lection of  the  past,  for  he  rode  on  for  some  time  without 
speaking,  —  a  preoccupation  on  his  part  which  seemed  in 
no  wise  agreeable  to  his  fair  companions. 

"There  are  the  MacFarlines,  Livy,"  said  Miss  Kenny- 


AN  EXCITING  ADVENTURE.  91 

feck;  "and  Linton,  and  Lord  Charles,  and  the  rest  of 
them.  I  declare,  I  believe  they  see  us,  and  are  coming 
this  way." 

"What  a  bore!  Is  there  no  means  of  escape?  Mr. 
Cashel,  pray  invent  one." 

"I  beg  pardon.  What  was  it  you  said?  I  have  been 
dreaming  for  the  last  three  minutes." 

"Pleasant  dreams  I  'm  certain  they  were,"  said  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  with  a  very  significant  smile;  "evoked,  doubt- 
less, by  some  little  memory  of  your  life  among  the 
Camanches." 

Cashel  started  and  grew  red,  while  his  astonishment 
rendered  him  speechless. 

"  Here  they  come ;  how  provoking !  "  exclaimed  Livy. 

"  Who  are  coming  ?  " 

"  Some  friends  of  ours,  who,  strange  to  say,  have  the  mis- 
fortune to  be  peculiarly  disagreeable  to  my  sister  Livy 
to-day,  although  I  have  certainly  seen  Lord  Charles  con- 
trive to  make  his  company  less  distasteful  at  other  times." 

"  Oh,  my  dear  Caroline,  you  know  perfectly  well  — " 
broke  in  Olivia,  with  a  tone  of  unfeigned  reproach. 

"Let  us  ride  for  it,  then,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  without 
permitting  her  to  finish.  "Now,  Mr.  Cashel,  a  canter,  — 
a  gallop,  if  you  will." 

"Quite  ready,"  said  Cashel,  his  animation  at  once 
returning  at  the  bare  mention ;  and  away  they  set,  down  a 
gentle  slope  with  wooded  sides,  then  they  gained  another 
grassy  plain,  skirted  with  trees,  at  the  end  of  which  a 
small  picturesque  cottage  stood,  the  residence  of  a  ranger; 
passing  this,  they  arrived  at  a  thick  wood,  and  then  slack- 
ened their  pace,  as  all  pursuit  might  be  deemed  fruitless. 
This  portion  of  the  park,  unlike  the  rest,  seemed  devoted 
to  various  experiments  in  agriculture  and  gardening.  Here 
were  little  enclosed  plots  of  Indian  corn  and  Swedish  tur- 
nips; here,  small  plantations  of  fruit  trees.  Each  succeed- 
ing secretary  seemed  to  have  left  behind  him  some  trace  of 
his  own  favorite  system  for  the  improvement  of  Ireland, 
and  one  might  recall  the  names  of  long-departed  ollicials  in 
little  experimental  specimens  of  drainage,  or  fencing,  or 
drill  culture  around.     Less  interested  by  these  patchwork 


92  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

devices,  Cashel  stood  gazing  on  a  beautiful  white  bull,  who 
grazed  in  a  little  paddock  carefully  fenced  by  a  strong  oak 
paling.  Although  of  a  small  breed,  he  was  a  perfect  speci- 
men of  strength  and  proportion,  his  massive  and  muscular 
neck  and  powerful  loins  contrasting  with  the  lanky  and 
tendinous  form  of  the  wild  animal  of  the  prairies. 

The  girls  had  not  remarked  that  Roland,  beckoning  to 
his  servant,  despatched  him  at  full  speed  on  an  errand,  for 
each  was  loitering  about,  amusing  herself  with  some  object 
of  the  scene. 

"What  has  fascinated  you  yonder?"  said  Miss  Kenny- 
feck,  riding  up  to  where  Roland  still  stood  in  wondering 
admiration  at  the  noble  animal. 

"The  handsomest  bull  I  ever  saw!  "  cried  he,  in  all  the 
ecstasy  of  a  "Torero;"  ''who  ever  beheld  such  a  magni- 
ficent fellow?  Mark  the  breadth  of  his  chest,  and  the 
immense  fore-arm.  See  how  he  lashes  his  tail  about.  No 
need  of  bandilleros  to  rouse  your  temper." 

"Is  there  no  danger  of  the  creature  springing  over  the 
paling?"  said  Olivia,  drawing  closer  to  Cashel,  and  look- 
ing at  him  with  a  most  trustful  dependence. 

Alas  for  Roland's  gallantry,  he  answered  the  words  and 
not  the  glance  that  accompanied  them. 

"No;  he'd  never  think  of  it,  if  not  excited  to  some 
excess  of  passion.  I  'd  not  answer  for  his  patience,  or  our 
safety  either,  if  really  provoked.  See!  is  not  that  glori- 
ous?" This  burst  of  enthusiasm  was  called  forth  by  the 
bull,  seized  with  some  sudden  caprice,  taking  a  circuit  of 
the  paddock  at  full  speed,  his  head  now  raised  majestically 
aloft,  and  now  bent  to  the  ground ;  he  snatched  some  tufts 
of  the  grass  as  he  went,  and  flung  them  from  him  in  wild 
sport. 

"Bravo,  toro!  "  cried  Cashel,  in  all  the  excitement  of 
delight  and  admiration.  "Viva  el  toro!"  shouted  he. 
"Not  a  'Corrida'  of  the  Old  World  or  the  New  ever  saw 
a  braver  beast." 

Whether  in  compliance  with  his  humor,  or  that  she  really 
caught  up  the  enthusiasm  from  Cashel,  Miss  Kennyfeck 
joined  in  all  his  admiration,  and  seemed  to  watch  the  play- 
ful pranks  of  the  great  animal  with  delight. 


AN  EXCITING  ADVENTURE.  93 

"How  you  would  enjoy  a  real  *toro  machia!'"  said 
Cashel,  as  he  turned  towards  her,  and  felt  that  she  was  far 
handsomer  than  he  had  ever  believed  before.  Indeed,  the 
heightened  color  of  exercise,  and  the  flashing  brilliancy  of 
her  eyes,  made  her  seem  so  without  the  additional  charm 
derived  from  sympathy  with  his  humor. 

"I  should  delight  in  it,"  cried  she,  with  enthusiasm. 
*'0h,   if  I  could  but  see  one!" 

Cashel  drew  nearer  as  she  spoke,  his  dark  and  piercing 
eyes  fixed  with  a  look  of  steadfast  admiration,  when  in  a 
low  half- whisper  he  said,  "Would  you  really  like  it?  Have 
these  wild  and  desperate  games  an  attraction  for  you?  " 

"Oh,  do  not  ask  me,"  said  she,  in  the  same  low  voice. 
"Why  should  I  confess  a  wish  for  that  which  never  can 
be." 

"How  can  you  say  that?  Have  not  far  greater  and  less 
likely  things  happened  to  almost  all  of  us?  Think  of 
me,  for  instance.  Travelling  with  the  Gambusinos  a  few 
months  back,  and  now  —  now  your  companion  here." 

If  there  was  not  a  great  deal  in  the  mere  words  them- 
selves, there  was  enough  in  the  look  of  the  speaker  to  make 
them  deeply  felt.  How  much  further  Cashel  might  have 
adventured,  and  with  what  additional  speculations  invested 
the  future,  is  not  for  us  to  say;  for  just  then  his  groom 
rode  up  at  speed,  holding  in  his  hands  a  great  coil  of  rope, 
to  one  end  of  which  a  small  round  ball  of  wood  was 
fastened. 

"What  is  that  for,  Mr.  Cashel?  "  inquired  both  the  girls 
together,  as  they  saw  him  adjust  the  coils  lightly  on  his 
left  arm,   and  poise  the  ball  in  his  right  hand. 

"Cannot  you  guess  what  it  means?"  said  Roland,  smil- 
ing.    "Have  you  never  heard  of  a  lasso?  " 

"A  lasso!  "  exclaimed  both  in  amazement.  "You  surely 
could  never  intend  —  " 

"You  shall  see,"  cried  he,  as  he  made  three  or  four  casts 
with  the  rope  in  the  air,  and  caught  up  the  loops  again  with 
astonishing  dexterity.  "Now  only  promise  me  not  to  be 
afraid,  nor,  if  possible,  let  a  cry  escape,  and  I  '11  siiow  you 
some  rare  sport.  Just  take  your  places  here;  the  horses 
will  stand  perfectly  quiet."     Without  v>aiting  for  a  reply, 


94  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

he  ordered  the  grooms  to  remain  at  either  side  of  the  young 
ladies,  and  then  dismounting,  he  forced  open  the  lock  and 
led  his  horse  into  the  paddock.  This  done,  he  leisurely 
closed  the  gate  and  mounted,  every  motion  being  as  free 
from  haste  and  excitement  as  if  made  upon  the  high-road. 
As  for  the  bull,  at  the  noise  of  the  gate  on  its  hinges,  he 
lifted  up  his  head;  but  as  it  were  indifferent  to  the  cause, 
he  resumed  his  grazing  attitude  the  moment  after. 

Cashel's  first  care  seemed  to  be  to  reconnoitre  the  ground; 
for  at  a  slow  walk  he  traversed  the  space  in  various  direc- 
tions, carefully  examining  the  footing  and  watching  for 
any  accidental  circumstance  that  might  vary  the  surface. 
He  then  rode  up  to  the  paling,  where  in  unfeigned  terror 
the  two  girls  sat,  silently  following  him  in  every  motion. 

"Now,  remember,"  said  he,  smiling,  "no  fears,  no 
terrors.  If  you  were  to  make  me  nervous,  I  should  prob- 
ably miss  my  cast,  and  the  disgrace,  not  to  speak  of  any- 
thing else,  would  be  dreadful." 

"Oh,  we  '11  behave  very  well,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
trying  to  assume  a  composure  that  her  pale  cheek  and 
compressed  lips  very  ill  corroborated.  As  for  Olivia,  too 
terrified  for  words,  she  merely  looked  at  him,  while  the  tears 
rolled  heavily  down  her  cheeks. 

"Now,  to  see  if  my  hand  has  not  forgot  its  cunning!  " 
said  Roland,  as  he  pressed  his  horse's  flanks,  and,  pushing 
into  a  half-gallop,  made  a  circuit  around  the  bull.  The 
scene  was  a  picturesque  as  well  as  an  exciting  one.  The 
mettlesome  horse,  on  which  the  rider  sat  with  consummate 
ease;  in  his  right  hand  the  loose  coils  of  the  lasso,  with 
which  to  accustom  his  horse  he  flourished  and  shook  around 
the  head  and  ears  of  the  animal  as  he  went;  while,  with 
head  bent  down,  and  the  strong  neck  slightly  retracted,  the 
bull  seemed  to  watch  him  as  he  passed,  and  at  length, 
slowly  turning,  continued  to  fix  his  eyes  upon  the  daring 
intruder.  Gradually  narrowing  his  circle,  Cashel  was 
cautiously  approaching  within  a  suitable  distance  for  the 
cast,  when  the  bull,  as  it  were  losing  patience,  gave  one 
short  hoarse  cry  and  made  at  him,  so  sudden  the  spring, 
and  so  infuriate  the  action,  that  a  scream  from  both  the 
sisters  tosjether  showed    how  near  the    danger   must   have 


AN  EXCITING  ADVENTURE.  95 

appeared.  Roland,  however,  had  foreseen  from  the  atti- 
tude of  the  beast  what  was  coming,  and  by  a  rapid  wheel 
escaped  the  charge,  and  passed  close  beside  the  creature's 
flank,  unharmed.  Twice  or  thrice  the  same  manoeuvre 
occurred  with  the  same  result;  and  although  the  horse  was 
terrified  to  that  degree  that  his  sides  were  one  sheet  of 
foam,  the  control  of  the  rider  was  perfect,  and  his  every 
gesture  bespoke  ease  and  confidence. 

Suddenly  the  bull  stopped,  and  retiring  till  his  haunches 
touched  the  paling,  he  seemed  surveying  the  field,  and 
contemplating  another  and  more  successful  mode  of  attack. 
The  concentrated  passion  of  the  creature's  attitude  at  this 
moment  was  very  fine,  as  with  red  eyeballs  and  frothed  lips 
he  stood,  slowly  and  in  heavy  strokes  lashing  his  flanks 
with  his  long  tail. 

"Is  he  tired?"  said  Miss  Kenny  feck,  as  Cashel  stood 
close  to  the  paling,  and  breathed  his  horse,  for  what  he 
foresaw  might  be  a  sharp  encounter. 

"No!  far  from  it,"  answered  Roland;  "the  fellow  has 
Ihe  cunning  of  an  old  *  Corridor;  '  you  '11  soon  see  him 
attack." 

The  words  were  not  well  uttered,  when,  with  a  low  deep 
roar,  the  bull  bounded  forward,  not  in  a  straight  line,  how- 
ever, but  zigzagging  from  left  to  right,  and  right  to  left,  as 
if  with  the  intention  of  pinning  the  horseman  into  a  corner. 
The  terrific  springs  of  the  great  beast,  and  his  still  more 
terrific  cries,  appeared  to  paralyze  the  horse,  who  stood 
immovable,  nor  was  it  till  the  savage  animal  had  approached 
within  a  few  yards  of  him,  that  at  last  he  reared  up  straight, 
and  then,  as  if  overcome  by  terror,  dashed  off  at  speed,  the 
bull  following. 

The  scene  was  now  one  of  almost  maddening  excitement; 
for,  although  the  speed  of  the  horse  far  exceeded  that  of 
his  pursuer,  the  bull,  by  taking  a  small  circle,  was  rapidly 
gaining  on  him,  and,  before  the  third  circuit  of  the  field 
was  made,  was  actually  almost  side  by  side.  Roland  saw 
all  his  danger;  he  knew  well  that  the  slightest  swerve,  a 
"single  mistake,"  would  be  fatal;  but  he  had  been  trained 
to  peril,  and  this  was  not  the  first  time  he  had  played  for 
life  and  won.     It  was  then,  just  at  the  instant  when  the 


96  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

bull,  narrowing  his  distance,  was  ready,  by  one  bound,  to 
drive  his  horns  into  the  horse's  flank,  that  the  youth  sud- 
denly reined  up,  and  throwing  the  horse  nearly  on  his 
haunches,  suffered  his  pursuer  to  shoot  ahead.  The  same 
instant,  at  least  so  it  seemed,  he  rose  in  his  stirrups,  and 
winding  the  rope  three  or  four  times  above  his  head,  hurled  it 
forth.  Away  went  the  floating  coils  through  the  air,  and  with 
a  sharp  snap,  they  caught  the  animal's  fore-legs  in  their  fast 
embrace.  Maddened  by  the  restraint,  he  plunged  forward, 
but  ere  he  gained  the  ground,  a  dexterous  pull  of  the  lasso 
jerked  the  legs  backwards,  and  the  huge  beast  fell  flounder- 
ing to  the  earth.  The  stunning  force  seemed  enough  to 
have  extinguished  life,  and  he  lay,  indeed,  motionless  for  a 
few  seconds,  when,  by  a  mighty  effort,  he  strove  to  burst 
his  bonds.  Roland,  meanwhile,  after  a  severe  struggle  to 
induce  his  horse  to  approach,  abandoned  the  effort,  sprang 
to  the  ground,  and  by  three  or  four  adroit  turns  of  the  lasso 
over  the  head  and  between  the  horns,  completely  fettered 
him,  and  at  each  fresh  struggle  passing  new  turns  of  the 
rope,  he  so  bound  him  that  the  creature  lay  panting  and 
powerless,  his  quivering  sides  and  distended  nostrils  breath- 
ing the  deep  rage  that  possessed  him. 

"Ah,  Mosquito  mio,"  —  the  Toridor's  usual  pet  name  for 
a  young  bull,  —  "  you  were  an  easy  victory  after  all,  though 
I  believe  with  a  little  more  practice  of  the  game  I  should 
only  get  off  second  best." 

There  was,  if  we  must  confess  it,  a  certain  little  bit  of 
boastfulness  in  the  speech,  the  truth  being  that  the  struggle, 
though  brief,  had  been  a  sharp  one,  and  so  Cashel's  air  and 
look  bespoke  it,  as  he  led  his  horse  out  of  the  paddock. 

It  would  be  a  somewhat  nice  point  —  happily,  it  is  not 
requisite  to  decide  it  —  whether  Roland  was  more  flattered 
by  the  enthusiastic  praise  of  the  elder  sister,  or  touched  by 
Lhe  silent  but  eloquent  look  with  which  Olivia  received 
him. 

"What  a  splendid  sight,  what  a  noble  achievement!  *' 
said  Miss  Kenny  feck.  "How  I  thank  you  for  thus  giving 
me,  as  it  were,  a  peep  into  Spain,  and  letting  me  feel  tiie 
glorious  enthusiasm  a  deed  of  heroism  can  inspire !  " 

"Are  you  certain  you  are  not  hurt?"  whispered  Olivia; 


AN  EXCITING   ADVENTURE.  97 

"the  creature's  liorDs  certainly  grazed  you.  Oh  clear!  how 
terrible  it  was  at  one  moment!  " 

"Are  you  going  to  leave  him  in  his  toils?"  said  Miss 
Kenny  feck. 

"Oh,  certainly,"  replied  Cashel,  laughing;  "I  commit 
the  pleasant  office  of  liberating  him  to  other  hands."  And 
so  saying,  he  carelessly  mounted  his  horse,  while  they 
pressed  him  with  a  hundred  questions  and  inquiries  aboul 
the  late  combat. 

"I  shall  be  amused  to  hear  the  reports  that  will  be  cur- 
rent to-morrow,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  "about  this  affair. 
I  'm  certain  the  truth  will  be  the  last  to  ooze  out.  My 
groom  says  that  the  creature  belongs  to  the  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant, and  if  so,  there  will  be  no  end  to  the  stories." 

Cashel  did  not  seem  as  much  impressed  as  the  sisters 
expected  at  this  announcement,  nor  at  all  aware  that  he  had 
been  constructively  affronting  the  Vice-Majesty  of  the  land, 
and  so  he  chatted  away  in  pleasant  indifference  while  they 
continued  their  ride  towards  home. 

VOL.  I.  —  7 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE    COMING    DINNER-PARTY    DISCUSSED. 

How  kindness  all  its  spirit  lends, 
When  we  discuss  our  dearest  friends, 
Not  meanly  faults  and  follies  hiding, 
But  frankly  owning  each  backsliding, 
Confessing  with  polite  compassion, 
"  They  're  very  bad,  but  still  the  fashion." 

The  Mode. 

The  Kennyfecks  were  without  strangers  that  day,  and 
Cashel,  who  was  now,  as  it  were  by  unanimous  election, 
received  into  the  bosom  of  the  family,  enjoyed  for  the  first 
time  in  his  life  a  peep  into  the  science  of  dinner-giving,  in 
the  discussions  occasioned  by  the  approaching  banquet. 

No  sooner  were  they  assembled  around  the  drawing-room 
fire,  than  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  whose  whole  soul  was  occupied 
by  the  one  event,  took  occasion,  as  it  were  by  pure  acci- 
dent, to  remember  that  they  "were  to  have  some  people 
to-morrow."  Now,  the  easy  nonchalance  of  the  reminis- 
cence and  the  shortness  of  the  invitation  would  seem  to 
imply  that  it  was  merely  one  of  those  slight  deviations 
from  daily  routine  which  adds  two  or  three  guests  to  the 
family  table;  and  so,  indeed,  did  it  impress  Cashel,  who 
little  knew  that  the  dinner  in  question  had  been  devised, 
planned,  and  arranged  full  three  weeks  before,  and  the 
company  packed  with  a  degree  of  care  and  selection  that 
evinced  all  the  importance  of  the  event. 

Time  was  when  the  Irish  capital  enjoyed,  and  justly,  the 
highest  reputation  for  all  that  constitutes  social  success; 
when  around  the  dinner-tables  of  the  city  were  met  men  of 
the  highest  order  of  intelligence,  men  pleased  to  exercise, 
without  effort  or  display,  all  the  charm  of  wit  and  elo- 
quence, and  to  make  society  a  brilliant  reunion  of  those 


THE  COMING  DINNER-PARTY  DISCUSSED.  99 

gifts  which,  in  the  wider  sphere  of  active  life,  won  fame 
and  honors. 

As  the  race  of  these  bright  conversers  died  out,  —  for, 
alas !  they  belonged  to  a  past  era,  —  their  places  were 
assumed  by  others  of  very  dissimilar  tastes.  Many  edu- 
cated at  English  universities  brought  back  with  them  to 
Ireland  the  more  reserved  and  cautious  demeanor  of  the 
other  country,  and  thus,  if  not  by  their  influence,  by  their 
mere  presence,  threw  a  degree  of  constraint  over  the  tone 
of  society,  which,  in  destroying  its  freedom,  despoiled  it 
of  all  its  charm. 

Fashion,  that  idol  of  an  Englishman's  heart,  soon  be- 
came an  Irish  deity  too,  and  it  now  grew  the  "  ton  "  to  be 
P^nglish,  or  at  least  what  was  supposed  to  be  such,  in  dress 
and  manner,  in  hours,  accent,  and  demeanor.  The  attempt 
was  never  successful;  the  reserve  and  placidity  which  sit 
with  gracefulness  on  the  high-bred  Englishman,  was  a 
stiff,  uncourteous  manner  in  the  more  cordial  and  volatile 
Irishman.  His  own  demeanor  was  a  tree  that  would  not 
bear  grafting,  and  the  fruit  lost  all  its  raciuess  by  the 
admixture. 

The  English  officials  at  the  Castle,  the  little  staff  of  a 
commander  of  the  forces,  a  newly-made  bishop,  fresh  from 
Oxford,  even  the  officers  of  the  last  arrived  dragoon  regi- 
ment, became,  by  right  of  "accent,"  the  types  of  manner 
and  breeding  in  circles  where,  in  the  actual  enjoyment  of 
social  qualities,  they  were  manifestly  beneath  those  over 
whom  they  held  sway;  however,  they  were  stamped  at  the 
metropolitan  mint,  and  the  competitors  were  deemed  a  mere 
depreciated  currency  which  a  few  years  more  would  cancel 
forever. 

Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  as  a  fashionable  dinner-giver,  of  course 
selected  her  company  from  this  more  choice  section ;  a  fact 
which  deserves  to  be  recorded,  to  the  credit  of  her  hospi- 
tality; for  it  was  a  very  rare  occurrence  indeed,  when  she 
found  herself  invited  by  any  of  those  distinguished  per- 
sonages who  figured  the  oftenest  at  her  own  table.  They 
thought,  perhaps  justly,  that  their  condescension  was  suffi- 
ciently great  to  demand  no  further  acknowledgment;  and 
that,  aa  virtue  is  said   to  be   its  own   reward,  theirs  was 


100  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

abundantly  exhibited  in  the  frankness  with  which  they  ate 
Kennyfeck's  venison,  and  drank  his  Burgundy,  both  of 
which  were  excellent. 

Every  one  dined  there,  because  they  knew  "they'd  meet 
every  one."  A  pretender  in  the  world  of  fashion,  unlike  a 
pretender  to  monarchy,  is  sure  to  have  the  best  company 
in  his  salon ;  and  so,  although  you  might  have  met  many  at 
the  tables  of  the  first  men  of  the  country,  who  were  there 
by  virtue  of  their  talents  or  abilities,  at  Kennyfeck's  the 
company  was  sure  to  be  "select."  They  could  not  afford 
dilution,   lest  they  should  find  themselves  at  ease! 

"Olivia,  pray  take  that  newspaper  from  Mr.  Kennyfeck, 
and  let  us  hear  who  he  has  asked  to  dinner  to-morrow," 
said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  gracefully  imitating  an  attitude  of 
Lady  Londonderry  in  the  "Book  of  Beauty." 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  heard  the  request,  and  started;  his  sur- 
prise had  not  been  greater  if  the  Chancellor  had  addressed 
him  as  "Tom."  It  was  the  first  time  in  his  life  that  an 
allusion  had  ever  been  made  to  the  bare  possibility  of  his 
inviting  the  company  of  a  grand  dinner;  a  prerogative  he 
had  never  so  much  as  dreamed  of,  and  now  he  actually 
heard  his  wife  refer  to  him,  as  if  he  were  even  a  party  to 
the  deed. 

"Invite!  Mrs.  Kennyfeck.     I  'm  sure  I  never  thought  —  '* 

"No  matter  what  you  thought,"  said  his  spouse,  redden- 
ing at  his  stupidity.  "1  wanted  to  remember  who  are 
coming,  that  we  may  let  Mr.  Cashel  learn  something  of 
our  Dublin   folk." 

"Here's  a  list,  mamma,"  said  Olivia;  "and  I  believe 
there  are  no  apologies.     Shall  I  read  it?" 

"Do  so,  child,"  said  she,  but  evidently  out  of  humor  that 
the  delightful  little  display  of  indifference  and  ignorance 
should  not  have  succeeded  better. 

"Sir  Andrew  and  Lady  Janet  MacFarline,  of  course!" 
cried  Miss  Kennyfeck;  "ain't  they  first?" 

"They  are,"  replied  her  sister. 

"Sir  Andrew,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  "is  a 
very  distinguished  officer, — a  K.C.B.,  and  something  else 
besides.  He  was  in  all  the  Duke's  battles  in  Spain;  a 
most  gallant  officer,  but  a  little  rough  in  manner,  — Scotch, 


THE  COMING  DINNER-PARTY  DISCUSSED.  101 

you  know.  Lady  Janet  was  sister  to  Lord —  What  is 
that  lord,  Caroline?     I  always  forget." 

"Dumkeeran,  mamma." 

"Yes,  that's  it.  She  is  a  charming  person,  but  very 
proud,  —  very  proud,  indeed ;  will  not  visit  with  the  Dublin 
people.  With  us,  I  must  say,  I  have  never  seen  anything 
like  her  kindness;  we  are  absolutely  like  sisters.  Go  on, 
Olivia." 

"Lord  Charles  Frobisher." 

"And  the  Honorable  Elliot  St.  John,"  chimed  in  her 
sister.;  "Damon  and  Pythias,  where  a  dinner  is  concerned." 
This  was  said  in  a  whisper. 

"They  are  aides-de-camp  to  the  Lord  Lieutenant.  Lord 
Charles  is  younger  brother  to  the  Duke  of  Derwent;  quite  a 
man  of  fashion,  and  so  amusing.     Oh,  he  's  delightful!  " 

"Charming!  "  duetted  the  two  sisters. 

"Mr.  St.  John  is  a  very  nice  person  too;  but  one  never 
knows  him  like  Lord  Charles :  he  is  more  reserved.  Olivia, 
however,  says  he  has  a  great  deal  in  him." 

"Oh,  mamma!  I'm  sure  I  don't  know;  I  only  thought 
him  much  more  conversable  than  he  gets  credit  for." 

"Well,  I  meant  no  more,"  said  her  mother,  who  did  not 
fancy  the  gathering  gloom  on  Cashel's  face  at  this  allusion; 
"read  on  again,  child." 

"Lord  Chief  Justice  Malone." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Kenny  feck,"  said  she,  playfully,  "this  is  your 
doing;  I  suspected,  from  your  confusion  awhile  ago,  what 
you  were  at."  Then,  turning  to  Roland,  she  said,  "He  is 
always  playing  us  this  trick,  Mr.  Cashel ;  whenever  we  have 
a  few  friends  together,  he  will  insist  upon  inviting  some 
of  his  old  bar  cronies!" 

A  deep  groan  from  Mr.  Kennyfeck  at  the  terrible  pro- 
fanity of  thus  styling  the  chief  of  the  Common  Pleas,  made 
every  one  start;  but  even  this,  like  a  skilful  tactician,  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck  turned  to  her  own  advantage. 

"Pray  don't  sigh  that  way.  He  is  a  most  excellent  per- 
son, a  great  lawyer,  and,  they  say,  must  eventually  have  the 
peerage."     She  nodded  to  Olivia  to  proceed,  who  read  on. 

"The  Attorney-General  and  Mrs.  Knivett." 

"Oh,  really,  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  this  is  pushing  prerogative; 


102  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

don't  you  think  so,  Mr.  Cashel?  Not  but,  you  know,  the 
Attorney-General  is  a  great  personage  in  this  poor  country; 
he  is  member  for  —  where  is  it?" 

"Baldoyle,  mamma." 

"Yes,  member  for  Baldoyle;  and  she  was  a  Miss  Gamett, 
of  Red  Gamett,  in  Antrim ;  a  most  respectable  connection ; 
so  I  think  we  may  forgive  him.  Yes,  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  you 
are,  at  least,  reprieved." 

"Here  come  the  Whites,  mamma.  I  suppose  we  may 
reckon  on  both,  though  she,  as  usual,  sends  her  hopes  and 
fears  about  being  with  us  at  dinner,  but  will  be  delighted 
to  come  in  the  evening." 

"That  apology  is  stereotyped,"  broke  in  Miss  Kenny- 
feck, "as  well  as  the  little  simpering  speech  she  makes  on 
entering  the  drawing-room.  *So  you  see,  my  dear  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  there  is  no  resisting  you.  Colonel  White 
assured  me  that  your  pleasant  dinners  always  set  him  up 
for  a  month,  —  he,   he,  he. '  " 

If  Cashel  had  not  laughed  heartily  at  the  lisping  imita- 
tion, it  is  possible  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  might  have  been  dis- 
pleased; but  as  the  quiz  "took,"  she  showed  no  umbrage 
whatever. 

"The  Honorable  Downie  Meek,  Under  Secretary  of 
State,"  read  Olivia,  with  a  little  more  of  emphasis  than 
on  the  last-mentioned  names. 

"A  person  you'll  be  charmed  with,  Mr.  Cashel, — so 
highly  informed,  so  well  bred,  so  perfectly  habituated  to 
move  in  the  very  highest  circles,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
giving  herself,  as  she  spoke,  certain  graces  of  gesture  which 
she  deemed  illustrative  of  distinguished  fashion. 

"A  cucumber  dressed  in  oil,"  whispered  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
who  showed  more  than  once  a  degree  of  impatience  at  these 
eulogistic  descriptions. 

"The  Dean  of  Drumcondera,  your  great  favorite, 
mamma." 

"So  he  is,  my  dear.  Now,  Mr.  Cashel,  I  shall  insist 
upon  you  liking  my  Dean.  I  call  him  my  Dean,  because 
one  day  last  spring  — " 

"Mrs.  Biles  wants  to  speak  to  you,  ma*am,  for  a  minute," 
said  the  butler   from   behind  the  chair;   and  although  the 


THE   COMING  DINNER-PARTY  DISCUSSED.         103 

interruption  was  anything  but  pleasant,  yet  the  summons 
must  be  obeyed,  for  Mrs.  Biles  was  the  housekeeper,  and 
any  approach  to  treating  her  with  indifference  or  contempt 
on  the  eve  of  a  great  dinner  would  be  about  as  impolitic  as 
insulting  a  general  who  was  about  to  command  in  a  great 
battle;  so  that  Mrs.  Keunyfeck  rose  to  comply,  not  even 
venturing  a  word  of  complaint,  lest  the  formidable  func- 
tionary should  hear  of  it,  and  take  her  revenge  on  the  made 
dishes. 

"Now  for  the  Dean.  Is  mamma  out  of  hearing?  "  said 
Miss  Kennyfeck,  who  rejoiced  at  the  casual  opportunity  of 
a  little  portrait-painting  in  a  different  style.  "Conceive  a 
tall,  pompous  man,  with  large  white  features,  and  a  high 
bald  head  with  a  conical  top ;  a  sharp,  clear,  but  unpleasant 
voice,  always  uttering  grave  nonsense,  or  sublime  absurdity. 
He  was  a  brilliant  light  at  Oxford,  and  came  over  to  illu- 
mine our  darkness,  and  if  pedantry  could  only  supply  the 
deficiency  in  the  potato  crop,  he  would  be  a  providence  to 
the  land.  His  affectation  is  to  know  everything,  from  chuck- 
farthing  to  conic  sections,  and  so  to  diffuse  his  informa- 
tion as  always  to  talk  science  to  young  ladies,  and  discuss 
the  royal  game  of  goose  with  Lords  of  the  Treasury.  His 
failures  in  these  attempts  at  Admirable  Crichtonism  would 
abash  even  confidence  great  as  his,  but  that  he  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  little  staff  of  admirers,  who  fend  off  the  sneers 
of  the  audience,  and,  like  buffers,  break  the  rude  shocks  of 
worldly  collision.  Socially,  he  is  the  tyrant  of  this  capital; 
for  having  learning  enough  to  be  more  than  a  match  for 
those  he  encounters,  and  skill  enough  to  give  his  paradoxes 
a  mock  air  of  authority,  he  usurps  a  degree  of  dictation  and 
rule  that  makes  society  mere  slavery.  You  '11  meet  him 
to-morrow  evening,  and  you  '11  see  if  he  does  not  know 
more  of  Mexico  and  Savannah  life  than  you  do.  Take 
care,  I  say,  that  you  venture  not  into  the  wilds  of  the 
Pampas;  for  you'll  have  his  companionship,  not  as  fellow- 
traveller,  but  as  guide  and  instructor.  As  for  myself, 
whenever  I  read  in  the  papers  of  meetings  to  petition  Par- 
liament to  repeal  this  or  redress  that,  in  the  name  of  'Jus- 
tice to  Ireland,'  I  ask,  why  does  nobody  pray  for  the  recall 
of  the  Dean  of  Drumcondera?  " 


104  ROLAND  OASHEL 

**Here  's  mamma,"  whispered  Olivia,  as  the  drawing- 
room  door  opened. 

"We've  done  the  Dean,  mamma,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
with  calm  composure. 

"Well,  don't  you  feel  that  you  love  him  already?  Mr. 
Cashel,  confess  that  you  participate  in  all  my  raptures.  Oh 
dear!  I  do  so  admire  talent  and  genius,"  exclaimed  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,   theatrically. 

Cashel  smiled,  and  muttered  something  unintelligible; 
and  Olivia  read  on,  but  with  a  rapidity  that  showed  the 
names  required  no  special  notice.  "The  Craufurds,  the 
Smythes,  Mrs.  Felix  Brown,  Lady  Emmeline  Grove." 

"Oh,  that  dear  Lady  Emmeline!  a  most  gifted  creature; 
she  's  the  authoress  of  some  sweet  poems.  She  wrote  that 
touching  sonnet  in  the  'Nobility's  Gallery  of  Loveliness,' 
beginning,  'Twin  Sister  of  the  Evening  Star.'  I'm  sure 
you  know  it." 

"I  'm  unfortunate  enough  never  to  have  seen  it,"  said 
Cashel. 

"Well,  you  shall  see  the  writer  to-morrow  evening;  I 
must  really  take  care  that  you  are  acquainted.  People  will 
tell  you  that  she  is  affected,  and  takes  airs  of  authorship; 
but  remember  her  literary  success,  —  think  of  her  contribu- 
tions to  the  'Court  Journal.'  " 

"Those  sweet  flatteries  of  the  nobility  that  Linton  calls 
court-plaster,  mamma,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  laughing 
maliciously. 

"Linton  is  very  abusive,"  said  her  mother,  tartly;  "he 
never  has  a  good  word  for  any  one." 

"He  used  to  be  a  pet  of  yours,  mamma,"  insinuated 
Olivia. 

"So  he  was  till  he  became  so  intimate  with  those  atro- 
cious Fothergills." 

"Who  is  he?"  said  Cashel. 

"He  's  a  son  of  Sir  George  Linton." 

"That 's  one  story,  mamma;  but  as  nobody  ever  saw  the 
aforesaid  Sir  George,  the  presumption  is  it  may  be  incor- 
rect. The  last  version  is  that  he  was  found,  like  Moses, 
the  discoverer  being  Lady  Harriet  Dropmore,  who,  with  a 
humanity  never  to  be   forgotten,"  —  "or  forgiven,"  whis- 


THE   COMING   DINNER-PARTY   DISCUSSED,  105 

pered  Olivia,  "for  she  has  been  often  taunted  with  it,"  — 
'Hook  care  of  the  creature,  and  had  it  reared,  — nay,  better 
again,  she  sent  it  to  Rugby  and  to  Cambridge,  got  it  into 
Parliament  for  Elmwood,  and  has  now  made  it  Master  of 
the  Horse  in  Ireland." 

"He  is  the  most  sarcastic  person  I  ever  met." 

"It  is  such  an  easy  talent,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck;  "the 
worst  of  wine  makes  capital  vinegar." 

"Then  here  follow  a  set  of  soldier  people,"  said  Olivia, 
—  "hussars  and  Queen's  Bays,  and  a  Captain  Tanker  of 
the  Royal  Navy,  —  oh,  I  remember,  he  has  but  one  arm,  — 
and  then  the  Pelertons  and  the  Cuffes." 

"Well,  are  we  at  the  end  of  our  muster-roll?  " 

"Yes,  we  have  nearly  reached  the  dregs  of  the  cup.  I 
see  Mr.  Knox  Softly,  and  the  Townleys ! " 

"Oh,  the  Townleys!  Poor  Mrs.  Townley,  with  her  yellow 
turban  and  red  feathers,  that  Lord  Dunbrock  mistook  for  a 
vol-au'vent  garnished  with  shrimps." 

"  Caroline !  "  cried  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  reprovingly,  for  her 
daughter's  sallies  had  more  than  once  verged  upon  the 
exhaustion  of  her  patience. 

"We  shall  not  weary  you  with  any  description  of  the 
'refreshers,'  Mr.   Cashel." 

"Pray  who  and  what  are  they?"  inquired  Cashel. 

"The  'refreshers'  are  that  amiable  but  undervalued  class 
in  society  who  are  always  asked  for  the  evening  when  the 
other  members  of  the  family  are  invited  to  dine.  They  are 
the  young  lady  and  young  gentleman  class,  —  the  household 
with  ten  daughters,  and  a  governess  that  sings  like,  any- 
thing but,  Persiani.  They  are  briefless  barristers,  with 
smart  whiskers;  and  young  men  reading  for  the  Church, 
with  moustaches;  infantry  officers,  old  maids,  fellows  of 
college,  and  the  gentleman  who  tells  Irish  stories." 

"Caroline,  I  really  must  request  —  " 

"  But,  mamma,  Mr.  Cashel  surely  ought  to  learn  the  map 
of  the  country  he  is  to  live  in." 

"I  am  delighted  to  acquire  my  geography  so  pleasantly," 
cried  Cashel.     "Pray  go  on." 

"I  am  bound  over,"  said  she,  smiling;  "mamma  is  look- 
ing penknives  at  me,  so  I  suppose  I  must  stop.     But  as  to 


106  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

these  same  'refreshers,'  you  will  easily  distinguish  them 
from  the  dinner  company.  The  young  ladies  are  always 
fresher  in  their  white  muslin;  they  walk  about  in  gangs, 
and  eat  a  prodigious  deal  of  bread-and-butter  at  tea.  Well, 
I  have  done,  mamma,  though  I  'm  sure  I  was  not  aware  of 
my  transgressions." 

"I  declare  Mr.  Kennyfeck  is  asleep  again.  — Mr.  Kenny- 
feck,  have  the  goodness  to  wake  up  and  say  who  is  to  make 
the  whist- table  for  Lady  Blennerbore." 

"Yes,  my  Lord,"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  waking  up  and 
rubbing  his  eyes,  "we'll  take  a  verdict  for  the  plaintiff, 
leaving  the  points  reserved." 

A  very  general  laugh  here  recalled  him  to  himself,  as 
with  extreme  confusion  he  continued,  "  I  was  so  fatigued  in 
the  Rolls  to-day.  It  was  an  argument  relative  to  a  trust, 
Mr.  Cashel,  which  it  is  of  great  moment  you  should  be 
relieved  of." 

"Oh,  never  trouble  your  head  about  it  now,  sir,"  said 
Cashel,  good-naturedly.  "  1  am  quite  grieved  at  the  weari- 
ness and  fatigue  my  affairs  are  costing  you." 

"I  was  asking  about  Lady  Blennerbore's  whist,"  inter- 
posed Mrs.  Kennyfeck.  "Who  have  3^ou  for  her  party 
besides  the  Chief  Justice?" 

"Major  M'Cartney  says  he  can't  afford  it,  mamma," 
said  the  eldest  daughter,  slyly.  "She  is  so  very  lucky 
with  the  honors !  " 

"Where  is  Thorpe?"  cried  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  not  deigning 
to  notice  this  speech,  —  "he  used  to  like  his  rubber." 

"He  told  me,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  "that  he  would  n't 
play  with  her  Ladyship  any  more;  that  one  had  some  chance 
formerly,  but  that  since  she  has  had  that  touch  of  the  palsy, 
she  does  what  she  likes  with  the  Kings  and  Aces." 

"This  is  atrocious;  never  let  me  hear  it  again,"  said 
the  mamma,  indignantly;  "at  all  events,  old  Mr.  Moore 
Hacket  will  do." 

"Poor  old  man,  he  is  so  blind  that  he  has  to  thumb  the 
cards  all  over  to  try  and  know  them  by  the  feel,  and  then 
he  always  washes  the  King  and  Queen's  faces  with  a  snuffy 
handkerchief,  so  that  the  others  are  sneezing  at  every  trick 
they  play." 


THE   COMING   DINNER-PARTY   DISCUSSED.  107 

"Caroline,  you  permit  yourself  to  take  the  most  improper 
freedoms;  I  desire  that  we  may  have  no  more  of  this.'* 

"I  rather  like  old  Mr.  Hacket,"  said  the  incorrigible 
assailant;  "he  mistook  Mr.  Pottinger's  bald  and  polished 
head  for  a  silver  salver,  and  laid  his  teacup  on  it,  the  last 
evening  he  was   here." 

If  Cashel  could  not  help  smiling  at  Miss  Kenny  feck's 
sallies,  he  felt  it  was  in  rather  a  strange  spirit  of  hospitality 
the  approaching  entertainment  was  given,  since  few  of 
the  guests  were  spared  the  most  slighting  sarcasms,  and 
scarcely  for  any  was  there  professed  the  least  friendship 
or  affection.  He  was,  however,  very  new  to  "the  world," 
and  the  strange  understanding  on  which  its  daily  inter- 
course, its  social  life  of  dinners,  visits,  and  dejeuners  sub- 
sists, was  perfectly  unknown  to  him.  He  had  much  to 
learn ;  but  as  his  nature  was  of  an  inquiring  character,  he 
was  as  equal  as  he  was  well  inclined  to  its  task.  It  was 
then,  with  less  enjoyment  of  the  scene  for  its  absurdity, 
than  actually  as  an  occasion  to  acquire  knowledge  of  people 
and  modes  of  living  hitherto  unknown,  he  listened  gravely 
to  the  present  discussion,  and  sat  with  attentive  ears  to 
hear  who  was  to  take  in  Lady  Janet,  and  whether  Sir  Archy 
should  precede  the  Chief  Justice  or  not;  if  a  Dragoon 
Colonel  should  take  the  pos  of  an  Attorney-General,  and 
whether  it  made  the  same  difference  in  an  individual's  rank 
that  it  did  in  his  comfort,  that  he  was  on  the  half-pay  list. 
When  real  rank  is  concerned,  few  things  are  easier  than 
the  arrangement  of  such  details;  the  rules  are  simple,  the 
exceptions  few,  if  any;  but  in  a  society  where  the  distinc- 
tions are  inappreciable,  where  the  designations  are  purely 
professional,  an  algebraic  equation  is  simpler  of  solution 
than  such  difficulties. 

Then  came  a  very  animated  debate  as  to  the  ])laces  at 
table,  wherein  lay  the  extreme  diMlculty  of  having  every 
one  away  from  the  fire  and  nobody  in  a  draught,  except,  of 
course,  those  little  valued  guests  who  really  appeared  to 
play  the  ignoble  part  of  mortar  in  a  great  edifice,  being 
merely  the  cohesive  ingredient  that  averted  friction  between 
more  important  materials.  Next  came  the  oft-disputed 
question  as  to  whether   the  champagne   should   be   served 


108  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

with  the  petits  pates,  after  the  fish,  or  at  a  remote  stage  of 
the  second  course,  the  young  ladies  being  eager  advocates 
of  the  former,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  as  firmly  denouncing  the 
practice  as  a  new-fangled  thing,  that  "the  Dean"  himself 
said  he  had  never  seen  at  Christchurch;  but  the  really 
great  debate  arose  on  a  still  more  knotty  point,  and  one  on 
which  it  appeared  the  family  had  brought  in  various  bills, 
without  ever  discovering  the  real  remedy.  It  was  by  what 
means  —  of  course,  moral  force  means  —  it  were  possible  to 
induce  old  Lady  Blennerbore  to  rise  from  table  whenever 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck  had  decreed  that  move  to  be  necessary. 

It  was  really  moving  to  listen  to  Mrs.  Kennyfeck' s  nar- 
ratives of  signals  unnoticed  and  signs  unattended  to ;  that 
even  on  the  very  last  day  her  Ladyship  had  dined  there, 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck  had  done  little  else  for  three  quarters  of 
an  hour  than  half  stand  and  sit  down  again,  to  the  misery 
of  herself  and  the  discomfort  of  her  neighbors. 

"Poor  dear  old  thing,"  said  Olivia,  "she  is  so  very  near- 
sighted." 

"Not  a  bit  of  it,"  said  her  sister;  "don't  tell  me  of  bad 
sight  that  can  distinguish  the  decanter  of  port  from  the 
claret,  which  I  have  seen  her  do  some  half-dozen  times 
without  one  blunder." 

"I  'd  certainly  stop  the  supplies,"  said  Cashel;  "would  n't 
that  do?" 

"Impossible!"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck;  "you  couldn't 
starve  the  whole  garrison  for  one  refractory  subject." 

"Mr.  Linton's  plan  was  a  perfect  failure,  too,"  said 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck.  "He  thought  by  the  introduction  of 
some  topic  ladies  do  not  usually  discuss  that  she  would 
certainly  withdraw;  on  the  contrary,  her  Ladyship  called 
out  to  me,  '  I  see  your  impatience,  my  dear,  but  I  must  hear 
the  end  of  this  naughty  story.'  We  tried  the  French  plan, 
too,  and  made  the  gentlemen  rise  with  us;  but  really  they 
were  so  rude  and  ill-tempered  the  entire  evening  after,  I  '11 
never  venture  on  it  again." 

Here  the  whole  party  sighed  and  were  silent,  as  if  the 
wished-for  mode  of  relief  were  as  distant  as  ever. 

"Must  we  really  ask  those  Claridge  girls  to  sing, 
mamma?"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  after  a  long  pause. 


THE  COMING  DINNER-PARTY  DISCUSSED.  109 

''Of  course  you  must.  They  were  taught  by  Costa,  and 
they  are  always  asked  wherever  they  go." 

"As  a  matter  of  curiosity,  Mr.  Cashel,  the  thing  is  worth 
hearing.  Paganini's  monocorde  was  nothing  to  it,  for 
they  '11  go  through  a  whole  scena  of  Donizetti  with  only 
one  note  in  their  voice.  Oh  dear!  how  very  tiresome  it  all 
is;  the  same  little  scene  of  pressings  and  refusals  and 
entreaties  and  rejections,  and  the  oft-repeated  dispute  of 
the  sisters  between  'Notte  divina  '  and  'Non  vedro  mai,' 
ending  in  that  Tyrolese  thing,  which  is  on  every  organ  in 
the  streets,  and  has  not  the  merit  of  the  little  shaved  dog 
with  the  hat  in  his  mouth,  to  make  it  droll.  And  then  "  — 
here  Miss  Kennyfeck  caught  a  side  glance  of  a  most  rebuk- 
ing frown  on  her  mother's  face,  so  that  adroitly  addressing 
herself  to  Cashel,  she  seemed  unaware  of  it,  — "and  then, 
when  the  singing  is  over,  and  those  who  detest  music  are 
taking  their  revenge  by  abusing  the  singers,  and  people  are 
endeavoring  to  patch  up  the  interrupted  chattings,  —  then, 
I  suppose,  we  are  quite  suddenly,  without  the  slightest  pre- 
meditation, to  suggest  a  quadrille  or  carpet-dance.  This 
is  to  be  proposed  as  a  most  new  and  original  idea  that 
never  occurred  to  any  one  before,  and  is  certain  to  be 
hailed  with  a  warm  enthusiasm ;  all  the  young  ladies  smil- 
ing and  smirking,  and  the  gentlemen  fumbling  for  their 
soiled  kid  gloves,  —  clean  ones  would  destroy  the  merit  of 
the  impromptu." 

"I'm  certain  Mr.  Cashel's  impression  of  our  society  here 
will  scarcely  be  flattering,  from  what  he  has  heard  this 
evening,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,   rising. 

"He'll  see  with  his  own  eyes  to-morrow  night,"  said 
Miss  Kennyfeck,  coolly. 

"Will  you  favor  me  with  a  little  of  your  time  in  the 
morning?"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck  to  Cashel.  "I  find  that  I 
cannot  avoid  troubling  you;  there  are  several  documents 
for  signature,  and  if  you  could  devote  an  hour,  or,  if  pos- 
sible,  two  —  " 

"I  am  perfectly  at  your  orders,"  said  Cashel;  "the  ladies 
say  that  they  will  not  ride,  and  therefore  dispose  of  me  as 
you  like." 

A  hearty  good-night  followed,  and  the  party  broke  up. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

A   DRIVE    WITH    THE    LADIES. 

Geld  kann  vieles  in  der  Welt.  —  Wiener  Lied. 

(Money  can  do  much  in  this  world.) 

When  Cashel  descended  the  stairs  to  breakfast,  he  took  a 
peep  into  the  drawing-room  as  he  went,  some  slight  hope  of 
seeing  Olivia,  perhaps,  suggesting  the  step.  He  was  dis- 
appointed, however;  except  a  servant  arranging  candles  in 
the  lustres,  the  room  was  empty.  The  same  fate  awaited 
him  in  the  breakfast-room,  where  a  small  table,  most  signi- 
ficantly laid  for  two,  showed  that  a  tete-a-tete  with  his  host 
was  in  store  for  him.  No  wonder,  then,  if  Mr.  Kennyfeck 
saw  something  of  impatience  in  the  air  of  his  young  guest, 
whose  eyes  turned  to  the  door  each  time  it  opened,  or  were  as 
hastily  directed  to  the  garden  at  each  stir  without,  — evident 
signs  of  thoughts  directed  in  channels  different  from  the 
worthy  solicitor's. 

Confess,  my  dear  reader,  —  if  you  be  of  the  sex  to  judge 
of  these  matters,  —  confess  it  is  excessively  provoking  when 
you  have  prepared  your  mind,  sharpened  your  wit  —  perhaps, 
too,  curled  your  whiskers  —  with  a  latent  hope  that  you  are 
to  meet  and  converse  with  two  very  handsome  and  sprightly 
girls,  that  the  interview  is  converted  into  a  scene  with 
"Papa."  For  ourselves,  who  acknowledge  to  have  a  kind 
of  Catholicism  in  these  affairs,  who  like  the  dear  creatures  in 
all  the  flaunting  dash  of  a  riding-hat  and  habit,  canterini2j 
away  of  a  breezy  day,  with  laughing  voice  and  half-uncurled 
hair;  who  delight  to  see  them  lounging  in  a  britzska  or 
lolling  in  a  phaeton ;  who  gaze  with  rapture  on  charms 
heightened  by  the  blaze  of  full-dress,  and  splendid  in  all  the 
brilliancy  of  jewels  and  flowers,  —  we  own  that  we  have  a  kind 


A  DRIVE  WITH  THE  LADIES.  Ill 

of  fondness,  almost  amounting  to  a  preference,  for  the  prim 
coquettisbness  of  a  morning-dress  —  some  light  muslin  thing, 
floating  and  gauzy  —  showing  the  figure  to  perfection,  and  in 
its  simplicity  suiting  well  the  two  braids  of  hair  so  innocently 
banded  on  the  cheeks.  There  is  something  of  conscious 
power  in  the  quiet  garb,  a  sense  of  trustfulness ;  it  is  like 
the  warrior  advancing  without  his  weapons  to  a  conference 
that  is  exceedingly  pleasing,  seeming  to  say.  You  see  that  I 
am  not  a  being  of  tulle,  and  gauze,  and  point  de  Bruxellcs, 
of  white  satin,  and  turquoise,  and  pink  camellias,  but  a 
creature  whose  duties  may  be  in  the  daily  round  of  life, 
meant  to  sit  beside  on  a  grassy  slope  as  much  as  on  a  velvet 
ottoman,  to  talk  with  as  well  as  flirt  with. 

We  have  no  means  of  knowing  if  Cashel  was  of  our  mind, 
and  whether  these  demi-toilette  visions  were  as  suggestive  to 
his  as  they  are  to  our  imagination,  but  that  he  bore  his  dis- 
appointment with  a  very  bad  grace  we  can  perfectly  answer 
for,  and  showed,  by  his  distracted  manner  and  inattentive 
air,  that  the  papa's  companionship  was  a  very  poor  substi- 
tute for  the  daughters'. 

It  must  be  owned,  too,  that  Mr.  Kennyfeck  was  scarcely 
a  brilliant  converser,  nor,  had  he  been  so,  was  the  matter 
under  consideration  of  a  kind  to  develop  and  display  his 
abilities.  The  worthy  solicitor  had  often  promised  himself 
the  pleasure  he  now  enjoyed  of  recounting  the  whole  story 
of  the  law  proceedings.  It  was  the  great  event  of  his  own 
life,  "  his  Waterloo,"  and  he  dwelt  on  every  detail  with  a 
prosy  dalliance  that  was  death  to  the  listener.  Legal  subtle- 
ties, shrewd  and  cunning  devices  of  crafty  counsellors,  all 
the  artful  dodges  of  the  profession,  Cashel  heard  with  a 
scornful  indifference  or  a  downright  apathy,  and  it  demanded 
all  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  own  enthusiasm  in  the  case  to  make  him 
persist  in  a  narrative  so  uninteresting  to  its  only  auditor. 

"  I  fear  I  weary  you,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  the  solicitor, 
**  with  these  details,  but  I  really  supposed  that  you  must  feel 
desirous  of  knowing  not  only  the  exact  circumstances  of 
your  estate,  but  of  learning  the  very  singular  history  by 
which  your  claim  was  substantiated." 

''If  I  am  to  be  frank,"  said  Cashel,  boldly,  "  I  must  tell 
you  that  these  things  possess  not  the  slightest  interest  for 


112  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

me.  When  I  was  a  gambler — which,  unfortunately,  I  was 
at  one  time  —  whether  I  won  or  lost,  I  never  could  endure  to 
discuss  the  game  after  it  was  over.  So  long  as  there  was  a 
goal  to  reach,  few  men  could  feel  more  ardor  in  the  pursuit. 
I  believe  I  have  the  passion  for  success  as  strong  as  my 
neighbors,  but  the  struggle  over,  the  prize  won,  whether  by 
myself  or  another  it  mattered  not,  it  ceased  to  have  any  hold 
upon  me.  I  could  address  myself  to  a  new  contest,  but 
never  look  back  on  the  old  one." 

*'  So  that,"  said  Kenny  feck,  drawing  a  long  breath  to  con- 
ceal a  sigh,  "  I  am  to  conclude  that  this  is  a  topic  you  would 
not  desire  to  renew.  Well,  I  yield  of  course  ;  only  pray  how 
am  I  to  obtain  your  opinion  on  questions  concerning  your 
property  ?  " 

"My  opinions,"  said  Cashel,  "must  be  mere  arbitrary 
decisions,  come  to  without  any  knowledge  ;  that  you  are  well 
aware  of.  I  know  nothing  of  this  country,  —  neither  its 
interests,  its  feelings,  nor  its  tastes.  I  know  just  as  little  of 
what  wealth  will  do,  and  what  it  will  not  do.  Tell  me, 
therefore,  in  a  few  words,  what  other  men,  situated  as  I  am, 
would  pursue,  —  what  habits  they  would  adopt,  how  live,  and 
with  whom.  If  I  can  conform,  without  any  great  sacrifice 
of  personal  freedom,  I  '11  do  so,  because  I  know  of  no 
slavery  so  bad  as  notoriety.  Just  then  give  me  your 
counsel,  and  I  ask,  intending  to  follow  it." 

Few  men  were  less  able  than  Mr.  Kennyfeck  to  offer  a 
valuable  opinion  on  these  difficult  subjects,  but  the  daily 
routine  of  his  professional  life  had  made  him  acquainted 
with  a  certain  detail  that  seemed,  to  himself  at  least,  an 
undeviating  rule  of  procedure.  He  knew  that,  to  the  heir 
of  a  large  estate  coming  of  age,  a  wife  and  a  seat  in  Par- 
liament were  the  two  first  objects.  He  had  so  often  been 
engaged  in  drawing  up  settlements  for  the  one,  and  raising 
money  for  the  other  contingency,  that  they  became  as  asso- 
ciated in  his  mind  with  one-and-twenty  years  of  age  as 
though  intended  by  Nature  to  denote  it. 

With  some  reserve,  which  we  must  not  scrutinize,  he 
began  with  the  political  object. 

"I  suppose,  sir,"  said  he,  "you  will  desire  to  enter 
Parliament?" 


A   DRIVE   WITH  THE  LADIES.  113 

"  I  should  like  it,"  said  Cashel,  earnestly,  "  if  a  sense  of 
inferiority  would  not  weigh  too  heavily  on  me  to  compensate 
for  the  pleasure.  With  an  education  so  neglected  as  mine, 
I  should  run  the  hazard  of  either  unjustly  depreciating  my 
own  judgment,  or  what  is  worse,  esteeming  it  at  more  than 
its  worth.  Now,  though  I  suspect  that  the  interest  of 
politics  would  have  a  great  attraction  for  me,  I  should 
always  occupy  too  humble  a  station  regarding  them,  to 
make  that  interest  a  high  one.  Omit  Parliament,  then, 
and   what  next?" 

"  The  duties  of  a  country  gentleman  are  various  and 
important  —  the  management  of  your  estates  —  " 

"  This  I  must  leave  in  your  hands,"  said  Cashel,  abruptly. 
"  Suggest  something  else." 

"  Well,  of  course,  these  come  in  a  far  less  important 
category ;  but  the  style  of  your  living,  the  maintenance  of 
a  house  befitting  your  rank  and  property,  the  reception  of 
your  country  neighbors,  —  all  these  are  duties." 

"  I  am  very  ignorant  of  forms,"  said  Cashel,  haughtily; 
*'  but  I  opine  that  if  a  man  spare  no  money,  with  a  good 
cook,  a  good  cellar,  a  good  stable,  and  carte  blanche  from 
the  owner  to  make  free  with  everything,  these  duties  are 
not  very  difficult  to  perform." 

Had  Mr.  Kennyfeck  known  more  of  such  matters,  he 
might  have  told  him  that  something  was  still  wanting,  — 
that  something  which  can  throw  its  perfume  of  good-breed- 
ing and  elegance  over  the  humble  dinner-party  in  a  cottage, 
and  yet  be  absent  from  the  gorgeous  splendor  of  a  banquet 
in  a  palace.  Mr.  Kennyfeck  did  not  know  this,  so  he 
accorded  his  fullest  assent  to  Cashel's  opinion. 

"  What  comes  next?  "  said  Roland,  impatiently,  *'  for 
as  I  am  neither  politician  nor  country  gentleman,  nor  can 
I  make  a  pursuit  of  mere  hospitality,  I  really  do  not  see 
what  career  is  open  to  me." 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  had  been  on  the  eve  of  introducing  the 
topic  of  marriage,  when  this  sally  suddenly  routed  the  at- 
tempt. The  man  who  saw  nothing  to  occupy  him  in  politics, 
property,  or  social  intercourse  would  scarcely  deem  a  wife 
an  all-sufficient  ambition.     Mr.  Kennyfeck  was  posed. 

"  I  see,  sir,  your  task  is  a  hard  one  j  it  is  no  less  than  to 
vol..  I. —  8 


114  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

try  and  conform  my  savage  tastes  and  habits  to  civilized 
usages,  —  a  difficult  thing,  I  am  certain  ;  however,  I  promise 
compliance  with  any  ritual  for  a  while.  I  have  often  been 
told  that  the  possession  of  fortune  in  these  countries  imposes 
more  restraints  in  the  shape  of  duties  than  does  poverty 
elsewhere.  Let  me  try  the  problem  for  myself.  Now, 
dictate,  and  I  obey." 

"After  all,"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  taking  courage,  *'  few 
men  would  deem  it  a  hard  condition  in  which  to  find  tliem- 
selves  master  of  above  £16,000  a  year,  to  enter  Parliament, 
to  keep  a  good  house,  and  marry  —  as  every  man  in  your 
circumstances  may  —  the  person  of  his  choice." 

''Oh!  Is  matrimony  another  article  of  the  code?" 
said  Cashel,  smiling.  ''  Well,  that  is  the  greatest  feature, 
because  the  others  are  things  to  abandon,  if  not  found  to  suit 
your  temper  or  inclination  —  but  a  wife  —  that  does  look 
somewhat  more  permanent.  No  matter,  I  '11  adventure  all 
and  everything  —  of  course  depending  on  your  guidance  for 
the  path." 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  was  too  happy  at  these  signs  of  confi- 
dence to  neglect  an  opportunity  for  strengthening  the  ties, 
and  commenced  a  very  prudent  harangue  upon  the  neces- 
sity of  Cashel's  using  great  caution  in  his  first  steps,  and 
not  committing  himself  by  anything  like  political  pledges, 
till  he  had  firmly  decided  which  side  to  adopt.  "As  to 
society,"  said  he,  "  of  course  you  will  select  those  who 
please  you  most  for  your  intimates ;  but  in  politics  there 
are  many  considerations  very  different  from  mere  liking. 
Be  only  guarded,  however,  in  the  beginning,  and  you  risk 
nothing  by  waiting." 

"And  as  to  the  other  count  in  the  indictment,"  said 
Cashel,  interrupting  a  rather  prosy  dissertation  about  poli- 
tical parties,  —  "as  to  the  other  count  —  matrimon}^  I 
mean.  I  conclude,  as  the  world  is  so  exceedingly  kind 
as  to  take  a  profound  interest  in  all  the  sayings  and  doings 
of  a  man  with  money,  that  perhaps  it  is  not  indifferent 
regarding  so  eventful  a  step  as  his  marriage.  Now,  pray, 
Mr.  Kennyfeck,  having  entered  Parliament,  kept  open 
house,  hunted,  shot,  raced,  dined,  gambled,  duelled,  and 
the  rest,  to  please  society,  how  must  I  satisfy  its  exigencies 


A  DRIVE    WITH   TilE    LADIES.  115 

in  this  last  particular?  I  mean,  is  there  any  particular  style 
of  lady,  —  tall,  short,  brunette  or  fair,  dark-eyed  or  blue- 
eyed,  —  or  what,  in  short,  is  the  person  I  must  marry  if  I 
would  avoid  transgressing  any  of  those  formidable  rules 
which  seem  to  regulate  every  action  of  your  lives,  and,  if  I 
may  believe  Mr.  Phillis,  superintend  the  very  color  of  your 
cravat  and  the  shape  of  your  hat?" 

*'  Oh,  believe  me,"  replied  Mr.  Kennyfeck  with  a  bland 
persuasiveness,  "fashion  is  only  exigeant  in  small  matters; 
the  really  momentous  affairs  of  life  are  always  at  a  man's 
own  disposal.  Whoever  is  fortunate  enough  to  be  Mr. 
Cashel's  choice,  becomes,  by  the  fact,  as  elevated  above 
envious  criticisms  as  she  will  be  above  the  sphere  where 
they  alone  prevail." 

"So  far  that  is  very  flattering.  Now  for  another  point. 
There  is  an  old  shipmate  of  mine  —  a  young  Spanish  officer 
—  who  has  lived  rather  a  rakish  kind  of  life.  I  'm  not  quite 
sure  if  he  has  not  had  a  brush  or  two  with  our  flag,  for  he 
dealt  a  little  in  ebony  —  you  understand  —  the  slave-trade, 
I  mean.  How  would  these  fine  gentlemen,  I  should  like  to 
know,  receive  him?  Would  they  look  coldly  and  distantly  at 
him?  I  should  naturally  wish  to  see  him  at  my  house,  but 
not  that  he  might  be  offered  anything  like  slight  or  insult." 

"  I  should  defer  it,  certainly.  I  would  recommend  you 
not  pressing  this  visit,  till  you  have  surrounded  yourself 
with  a  certain  set,  a  party  by  whom  you  will  be  known  and 
upheld." 

"So  then,  if  I  understand  you  aright,  I  must  obtain  a 
kind  of  security  for  my  social  good  conduct  before  the 
world  will  trust  me?  Now,  this  does  seem  rather  hard, 
particularly  as  no  man  is  guilty  till  he  lias  been  convicted." 

"  The  bail-bond  is  little  else  than  a  matter  of  form,"  said 
Mr.  Kennyfeck,  smiling,  and  glad  to  cap  an  allusion  which 
his  professional  pursuits  made  easy  of  comprehension. 

"Well,"  sighed  Cashel,  "I'm  not  quite  certain  that  this 
same  world  of  yours  and  I  shall  be  long  friends,  if  even  we 
begin  as  such.  I  have  all  my  life  been  somewhat  of  a  rebel, 
except  where  authority  was  lax  enough  to  make  resistance 
unnecessary.  How  am  I  to  get  on  here,  hemmed  in  and 
fenced  by  a  hundred  restrictions?" 


116  liOLAND   CASITEL. 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  could  not  explain  to  him  that  these 
barriers  were  less  restrictions  against  personal  liberty  than 
defences  against  aggression ;  so  he  only  murmured  some 
commonplaces  about  "  getting  habituated,"  and  "  time," 
and  so  on,  and  apologized  for  what  he,  in  reality,  might 
have  expatiated  on  as  privileges. 

"  My  mistress  wishes  to  know,  sir,"  said  a  footman,  at 
this  juncture,  "if  Mr.  Cashel  will  drive  out  with  her?  the 
carriage  is  at  the  door." 

"Delighted!"  cried  Cashel,  looking  at  the  same  time 
most  uncourteously  pleased  to  get  away  from  his  tiresome 
companion. 

Cashel  found  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  and  her  daughters  seated 
in  a  handsome  barouche,  whose  appointments,  bating,  per- 
haps, some  little  exuberance  in  display,  were  all  perfect. 
The  ladies,  too,  were  most  becomingly  attired,  and  the 
transition  from  the  little  cobwebbed  den  of  the  solicitor  to 
the  free  air  and  pleasant  companionship,  excited  his  spirits 
to  the  utmost. 

"How  bored  you  must  have  been  by  that  interview!" 
said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  as  they  drove  away. 

"  Why  do  you  say  so?"  said  Cashel,  smiling. 

"You  looked  so  weary,  so  thoroughly  tired  out,  when 
you  joined  us.  I  'm  certain  Mr.  Kennyfeck  has  been 
reading  aloud  all  the  deeds  and  documents  of  the  trial, 
and  reciting  the  hundred-and-one  difficulties  which  his  sur- 
passing acuteness,  poor  dear  man  !  could  alone  overcome." 

"  No,  indeed  you  wrong  him,"  said  Roland,  with  a  laugh ; 
"  he  scarcely  alluded  to  what  he  might  have  reasonably 
dwelt  upon  with  pride,  and  what  demands  all  my  gratitude. 
He  was  rather  giving  me,  what  I  so  much  stand  in  need  of, 
a  little  lecture  on  my  duties  and  devoirs  as  a  possessor  of 
fortune ;  a  code,  I  shame  to  confess,  perfectly  strange  to 
me." 

A  very  significant  glance  from  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  towards 
the  girls  revealed  the  full  measure  of  her  contempt  for  the 
hardihood  of  poor  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  daring ;  but  quickly 
assuming  a  smile,  she  said,  "And  are  we  to  be  permitted 
to  hear  what  these  excellent  counsels  were,  or  are  these 
what  the  Admiralty  calls  '  secret  instructions '  ?  " 


A  DRIVE   WITH  THE   LADIES.  117 

*'Not  in  the  least.  Mr.  Kennjfeck  sees  plainly  enough 
—  it  is  but  too  palpable  —  that  I  am  as  ignorant  of  this 
new  world  as  he  himself  would  be,  if  dropped  down  sud- 
denly in  an  Indian  encampment,  and  that  as  the  thing 
I  detest  most  in  this  life  is  any  unnecessary  notoriety,  I 
want  to  do  as  far  as  in  me  lies,  like  my  neighbors.  I  own 
to  you  that  the  little  sketch  with  which  he  favored  me  is 
not  too  fascinating,  but  he  assures  me  that  with  time  and 
patience  and  zeal  I  '11  get  over  my  difficulties,  and  make 
a  very  tolerable  country  gentleman." 

"But,  my  dear  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  with 
a  great  emphasis  on  the  epithet,  "why  do  you  think  of 
listening  to  Mr.  Kennyfeck  on  such  a  subject?  Poor  man, 
he  takes  all  his  notions  of  men  and  manners  from  the  Ex- 
chequer and  Common  Pleas." 

"  Papa's  models  are  all  in  horse-hair  wigs,  —  fat  mum- 
mies in  ermine  !  "  said  Miss  Kennyfeck. 

"  When  Mr.  Cashel  knows  Lord  Charles,"  said  Olivia. 

"Or  Mr.  Linton  —  " 

"Or  the  Dean,"  broke  in  Mrs.  Kennyfeck;  "for  al- 
though a  Churchman,  his  information  on  every  subject  is 
boundless." 

Miss  Kennyfeck  gave  a  sly  look  towards  Cashel,  which 
very  probably  entered  a  dissent  to  her  mamma's  opinion. 

"If  I  were  you,"  resumed  she,  tenderly,  "I  know  what 
I  should  do ;  coolly  rejecting  all  their  counsels,  I  should 
fashion  my  life  as  it  pleased  myself  to  live,  well  assured 
that  in  following  my  bent  I  should  find  plenty  of  people 
only  too  happy  to  lend  me  their  companionship.  Just  re- 
flect, for  a  moment,  how  very  agreeable  you  can  make  your 
house,  without  in  the  least  compromising  any  taste  or  in- 
clination of  your  own;  without,  in  fact,  occupying  your 
mind  on  the  subject. 

"But  the  world,"  remarked  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  "must  be 
cared  for !  It  would  not  do  for  one  in  Mr.  Cashel's  station 
to  form  his  associates  only  among  those  whose  agreeability 
is  their  recommendation." 

"Then  let  him  know  the  Dean,  mamma,"  said  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  slyly. 

**  Yes,  -my  dear,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  not  detect- 


118  ROLAND   CASIIEL. 

ing  the  sarcasm,  "I  cannot  fancy  one  more  capable  of 
affording  judicious  counsel.  You  spoke  about  ordering 
plate,  Mr.  Cashel ;  but  of  course  you  will  apply  to  Storr 
and  Mortimer.  Everything  is  so  much  better  in  London ; 
otherwise,  here  we  are  at  Leonard's." 

The  carriage  drove  up,  as  she  spoke,  to  the  door  of  a 
very  splendid-looking  shop,  where  in  all  the  attractive 
display  modern  taste  has  invented,  plate  and  jewellery  glit- 
tered and  dazzled. 

'*  It  was  part  of  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  counsel  this  morning," 
said  Cashel,  ''  that  I  should  purchase  anything  I  want  in 
Ireland,  so  far,  at  least,  as  practicable ;  so,  if  you  will  aid 
me  in  choosing,  we'll  take  the  present  opportunity." 

Mrs.  Kennyfeck  was  overjoyed  at  the  bare  mention  of 
such  an  occasion  of  display,  and  sailed  into  the  shop  with 
an  air  that  spoke  plain  as  words  themselves,  *'  I  'm  come 
to  make  your  fortune."  So  palpable,  indeed,  was  the 
manner  of  her  approach,  that  the  shopman  hastily  retired 
to  seek  the  proprietor  of  the  establishment,  —  a  little  pom- 
pous man,  with  a  bald  head,  —  who,  having  a  great  number 
of  "  bad  debts"  among  his  high  clients,  had  taken  to  treat- 
ing great  folk  with  a  very  cool  assumption  of  equality. 

"Mr.  Cashel  is  come  to  look  about  some  plate,  Mr. 
Leonard.  Let  us  see  your  book  of  drawings;  and  have 
you  those  models  you  made  for  Lord  Kellorane  ?  " 

"We  have  better,  ma'am,"  said  Leonard.  "We  have 
the  plate  itself.  If  you  will  step  upstairs.  It  is  all  laid 
out  on  the  tables.  The  fact  is "  —  here  he  dropped  his 
voice  —  "his  lordship's  marriage  with  Miss  Fenchurch  is 
broken  off,  and  he  will  not  want  the  plate,  and  we  have 
his  orders  to  sell  it  at  once." 

"  And  is  that  beautiful  pony-phaeton,  with  the  two  black 
Arabians,  to  be  sold?"  asked  Miss  Kennyfeck,  eagerly. 
"  He  only  drove  them  once,  I  think." 

"Yes,  madam,  everything:  they  are  all  to  be  auctioned 
at  Dycer's  to-day." 

"  At  what  hour?  "  inquired  Cashel. 

"At  three,  precisely,  sir." 

"  Then  it  wants  but  five  minutes  of  the  time,"  ^aid  Cashel, 
looking  at  his  watch. 


A  DKIVE   WITH  THE   LADIES.  119 

*'But  the  plate,  sir?  Such  an  opportunity  may  never 
occur  again,"  broke  in  Leonard,  fearful  of  seeing  his  cus- 
tomer depart  unprofitably. 

"  Oh,  to  be  sure.  Let  us  see  it,"  said  Cashel,  as  he  handed 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck  upstairs. 

An  exclamation  of  surprise  and  delight  burst  from  the 
party  at  the  magnificent  display  which  greeted  them  on 
entering  the  room.  How  splendid  — ■  what  taste  —  how  very 
beautiful  —  so  elegant  —  so  massive  —  so  chaste!  and  fifty 
other  encomiastic  phrases. 

"Very  fine,  indeed,  ma'am,"  chimed  in  Leonard;  "cost 
fifteen  and  seven-pence  the  ounce  throughout,  and  now  to 
be  sold  for  thirteen  shillings." 

"  What  is  the  price?  "  said  Cashel,  in  a  low  whisper. 

"  There  are,  if  I  remember  right,  sir,  but  1  '11  ascertain  in 
a  moment,  eight  thousand  ounces." 

"  I  want  to  know  the  sum  in  one  word,"  rejoined  Cashel, 
hastily. 

"It  will  be  something  like  three  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  —  " 

"  Well,  say  three  thousand  seven  hundred,  it  is  mine." 

"  These  ice-pails  are  not  included,  sir." 

"  Well,  send  them  also,  and  let  me  know  the  price.  How 
handsome  that  brooch  is !  Let  me  see  it  on  your  velvet 
dress,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck.  Yes,  that  really  looks  well.  Pray 
let  it  remain  there." 

"Oh,  I  could  not  think  of  such  a  thing!  It  is  far  too 
costly.     It  is  the  most  splendid  —  " 

"  You '11  not  refuse  me,  I  hope,  a  first  request,  madam," 
said  he,  with  a  half-offended  air. 

Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  really  overwhelmed  by  the  splendor  of 
the  gift,  complied  with  a  reluctant  shame. 

"These  are  the  diamonds  that  were  ordered  for  the 
bride,"  said  Leonard,  opening  a  jewel-casket,  and  exhibiting 
a  most  magnificent  suite. 

"Oh,  how  sorry  she  must  be!"  cried  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
as  she  surveyed  tlie  glittering  mass. 

"  If  she  loved  him,"  murmured  Olivia,  in  a  low  whisper, 
as  if  to  herself,  but  overheard  by  Cashel,  who  kept  his  eyes 
towards  her  with  an  expression  of  dco[)  interest. 


120  ilOLAND  CASIIEL. 

*'  If  the  gentleman  stood  in  need  of  such  a  set,"  said 
Leonard,  "  I  am  empowered  to  dispose  of  them  at  the 
actual  cost.  It  is  old  Mr.  Fenchurch  who  suffers  all  the 
loss,  and  he  can  very  well  afford  it.  As  a  wedding  present, 
sir  —  " 

"But  I  am  not  going  to  be  married,  that  I  know  of," 
said  Cashel,  smiling. 

"Perhaps  not  this  week,  sir,  or  the  next,"  rejoined  tlie 
self-sufficient  jeweller;  "but,  of  course,  that  time  will 
come.  Two  thousand  pounds  for  such  a  suite  is  positively 
getting  them  a  present,  to  break  them  up  and  reset  them." 

"  How  shocking!  "  cried  Miss  Kennyfeck. 

"  Yes,  madam;  but  what  is  to  be  done?  They  only  suit 
large  fortunes  in  their  present  form ;  these,  unfortunatel3% 
are  very  rare  with  us." 

"A  quarter  past  three!"  exclaimed  Cashel;  "we  shall 
be  too  late." 

"And  the  diamonds,  sir?"  said  Leonard,  following  him 
downstairs. 

"Do  yoic  think  them  so  handsome?"  said  Cashel  to 
Olivia,  as  she  walked  at  his  side. 

"Oh,  they  are  most  beautiful,"  replied  she,  with  a  bash- 
ful falling  of  her  eyelids. 

"I'll  take  them  also,"  whispered  Cashel  to  Leonard, 
who,  for  perhaps  the  only  time  for  years  past,  accompanied 
the  party,  bareheaded,  to  their  carriage,  and  continued 
bowing  till  they  drove  away. 

"  Dycer's,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck;  "and  as  fast  as  you 
can." 

With  all  their  speed  they  came  too  late.  The  beautiful 
equipage  had  been  already  disposed  of,  and  was  driving 
from  the  gate  as  they  drew  up. 

"How  provoking!  —  how  terribly  provoking!  "  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck. 

"I  declare,  I  think  them  handsomer  than  ever,"  said  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  as  she  survej^ed  the  two  well-matched  and 
highly-bred  ponies. 

"Who  bought  them?  "  asked  Mrs.  Kennyfeck. 

"I  am  the  fortunate  individual,  or  rather  the  unh:ipi)y 
one,  who  excites  such  warm  regrets,"  said  Mr   Linton,  as 


A  DRIVE   WITH  THE  LADIES.  121 

he  lounged  on  the  door  of  the  carriage.  "I  would  I  were 
Rothschild,  or  his  son,  or  his  godson,  to  beg  your  accept- 
ance of  them.'* 

"What  did  you  give  for  them,  Mr.  Linton?  "  asked  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck. 

"How  unfair  to  ask;  and  you,  too,  who  understand  these 
things  so  well." 

"I  want  to  purchase  them,"  said  she,  laughing;  "that 
was  my  reason." 

"To  you,  then,  the  price  is  what  I  have  just  paid,  —  a 
hundred  and  fifty." 

"How  cheap!" 

"Absolutely  for  nothing.  I  bought  them  on  no  other 
account.     I  really  do  not  want  such  an  equipage." 

"To  be  serious,  then,"  resumed  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  "we 
came  here  with  Mr.  Cashel  to  purchase  them,  and  just 
arrived  a  few  minutes  too  late." 

"Quite  early  enough  to  allow  of  my  being  able  to  render 
you  a  slight  service;  without,  however,  the  satisfaction  of 
its  having  demanded  any  effort  from  me.  Will  you  pre- 
sent me  to  Mr.  Cashel?  "  The  gentlemen  bowed  and 
smiled,  and  Linton  resumed:  "If  you  care  for  the  ponies, 
Mr.  Cashel,  I  am  delighted  to  say  they  are  at  your  service. 
I  really  bought  them,  as  I  say,  because  they  were  going  for 
nothing."  Cashel  did  not  know  how  to  return  the  gener- 
osity, but  accepted  the  offer,  trusting  that  time  would  open 
an  occasion  to  repay  the  favor. 

"Shall  I  send  them  home  to  you,  or  will  you  drive 
them?" 

"Will  you  venture  to  accompany  me?"  said  Cashel, 
turning  to  Olivia  Kennyfeck;  who,  seeing  at  once  the  im- 
propriety of  a  proposal  which  Roland's  ignorance  of  the 
world  alone  could  have  committed,  was  silent  and  confused. 

"Are  you  afraid,  my  dear?"  inquired  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
to  show  that  all  other  objections  might  be  waived. 

"Oh  no,  mamma,  if  you  are  not." 

"The  ponies  are  perfectly  quiet,"  said  Linton. 

"I  'm  certain  nothing  will  happen,"  said  Miss  Kenny- 
feck, with  a  most  significant  <>hince  at  her  sister. 

"Take  care  of  her,   Mr.   Cashel,"  said    the   mauinia,    as 


122  ROLANI;  (;asjiel. 

Roland  handed  the  blushing  girl  to  her  place.  "I  have 
never  trusted  her  in  any  one's  charge  before;  and  if  1  had 
not  such  implicit  confidence  —  "  Before  the  sentence  was 
finished,  the  ponies  sprang  forward  in  a  trot,  the  equipage 
in  a  moment  fled  and  disappeared  from  view. 

"A  fine  young  fellow  he  seems  to  be,"  said  Linton,  as  he 
raised  his  hat  in  adieu;  *'and  so  frank,  too!  "  There  was 
a  something  in  his  smile  that  looked  too  intelligent,  but 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck  affected  not  to  notice  it,  as  she  said 
*' Good-bye." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

THE    GREAT   KENNYFECK    DINNER. 

There  were  lords  and  ladies,  —  I  saw  myself, — 

A  duke  with  his  Garter,  a  knight  with  his  Guelph. 

"  Orders  "  —  as  bright  as  the  eye  could  see, 

The  "  Golden  Fleece,"  and  the  *'  Saint  Esprit ; " 

Black  Eagles,  and  Lions,  and  even  a  Lamb, 

Such  an  odd-looking  thing  —  from  the  great  "Nizam;  " 

Shamrocks  and  Thistles  there  were  in  a  heap, 

And  the  Legion  of  Honor  from  "Louis  Philippe/* 

So  I  asked  myself  —  Does  it  not  seem  queer. 

What  can  bring  this  goodly  company  here  '( 

Mrs.   Thorpe's  Fete  at  Twickenham. 

Although  Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  company  were  invited  for 
seven  o'clock,  it  was  already  something  more  than  half-past 
ere  the  first  guest  made  his  appearance,  and  he  found  him- 
self alone  in  the  drawing-room;  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  who  was 
a  very  shrewd  observer  of  everything  in  high  life,  having 
remembered  that  it  twice  occurred  to  herself  and  Mr.  K.  to 
have  arrived  the  first  at  the  Secretary's  "Lodge,"  in  the 
Park,  and  that  the  noble  hostess  did  not  descend  till  at 
least  some  two  or  three  others  had  joined  them. 

The  "first  man  "  to  a  dinner  is  the  next  most  miserable 
thing  to  the  "last  man"  at  leaving  it.  The  cold  air  of 
solitude,  the  awkwardness  of  seeming  too  eager  to  be 
punctual,  the  certainty,  almost  inevitable,  that  the  next 
person  who  arrives  is  perfectly  odious  to  you,  and  that  you 
will  have  to  sustain  a  tete-a-tete  with  the  man  of  all  others 
you  dislike,  — all  these  are  the  agreeables  of  the  first  man; 
but  he  who  now  had  to  sustain  them  was,  happil}',  indiffer- 
ent to  their  tortures.  He  was  an  old,  very  deaf  gentleman, 
who  had  figured  at  the  dinner-tables  of  the  capital  for  half 
a  century,  on  no  one  plea  that  any  one  could  discover,  save 


124  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

that  he  was  a  ''Right  Honorable."  The  privilege  of  sitting 
at  the  Council  had  conferred  the  far  pleasanter  one  of 
assisting  at  dinners;  and  his  political  career,  if  not  very 
ambitious,  had  been,  what  few  men  can  say,  unruffled. 

He  seated  himself,  then,  in  a  very  well-cushioned  chair, 
and  with  that  easy  smile  of  benevolent  meaning  which  cer- 
tain deaf  people  assume  as  a  counterpoise  for  the  want  of 
colloquial  gifts,  prepared  to  be,  or  at  least  to  look,  a  very 
agreeable  old  gentleman  to  the  next  arrival.  A  full  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  passed  over,  without  anything  to  break  the 
decorous  stillness  of  the  house;  when  suddenly  the  door 
was  thrown  wide,  and  the  butler  announced  Sir  Harvey 
Upton  and  Captain  Jennings.  These  were  two  hussar 
officers,  who  entered  with  that  admirable  accompaniment  of 
clinking  sabres,  sabretaches,  and  spurs,  so  essential  to  a 
cavalry  appearance. 

"Early,  by  Jove!"  cried  one,  approaching  the  mirror 
over  the  chimney-piece,  and  arranging  his  moustaches,  per- 
fectly unmindful  of  the  presence  of  the  Right  Honorable 
who  sat  near  it. 

*'They  are  growing  worse  and  worse  in  this  house,  I 
think,"  cried  the  other.  "The  last  time  I  dined  here,  we 
sat  down  at  a  quarter  to  nine." 

"It's  all  Linton's  fault,"  drawled  out  the  first  speaker; 
"  he  told  a  story  about  Long  Wellesley  asking  some  one  for 
'ten,'  and  apologizing  for  an  early  dinner,  as  he  had  to 
speak  in  the  House  afterwards.  Who  is  here?  Neat  step- 
pers, those  horses ! " 

"It  is  Kilgoff  and  his  new  wife,  — do  you  know  her?" 

"No;  she's  not  one  of  those  pale  girls  we  used  to  ride 
with  at  Leamington?" 

There  was  no  time  for  reply,  when  the  names  were 
announced,  "Lord  and  Lady  Kilgoff!"  and  a  very  weakly 
looking  old  man,  with  a  blue  inside  vest,  and  euormous 
diamond  studs  in  his  shirt,  entered,  supporting  a  very 
beautiful  young  woman,  whose  proud  step  and  glancing  eye 
were  strange  contrasts  to  his  feeble  and  vacant  expression. 
The  hussars  exchanged  significant  but  hasty  glances,  and 
fell  back,  while  the  others  advanced  up  the  room. 

"Our  excellent  hostess,"  said  my  Lord,  in  a  low  but  dis- 


THE   GREAT  KENNYFECK  DINNER.  125 

tinct  voice,  "will  soon  shame  Wilton-crescent  itself  in  late 
hours.     I  fancy  it's  nigh  eight  o'clock." 

"It's  not  their  fault,  poor  things,"  said  she,  lying  back 
in  a  chair  and  disposing  her  magnificent  dress  into  the 
most  becoming  folds;  "people  will  come  late  do  what  one 
may  " 

"They  may  do  so,  that's  very  true;  but  I  would  beg  to 
observe,  you  need  not  wait  for  them."  This  was  said  with 
a  smile  towards  the  hussars,  as  though  to  imply,  "There  is 
no  reason  why  you  should  not  express  an  opinion,  if  it 
agree  with  mine." 

The  baronet  immediately  bowed,  and  smiling,  so  as  to 
show  a  very  white  range  of  teeth  beneath  his  dark  moustache, 
said,  "In  part,  I  agree  with  your  Lordship,  but  it  requires 
the  high  hand  of  fashion  to  reform  the  abuse."  Here  a 
most  insidious  glance  at  her  Ladyship  most  effectually  con- 
veyed the  point  of  his  meaning. 

Just  then,  in  all  the  majesty  of  crimson  velvet,  Mrs. 
Kenny  feck  appeared,  her  comely  person  heaving  under  the 
accumulated  splendor  of  lace,  flowers,  and  jewelry.  Her 
daughters,  more  simply  but  still  handsomely  dressed,  fol- 
lowed, Mr.  Kennyfeck  bringing  up  the  rear,  in  very  evident 
confusion  at  having  torn  his  kid  gloves, — a  misfortune 
which  he  was  not  clear  should  be  buried  in  silence,  or  made 
the  subject  of  public  apology. 

Lady  Kilgoff  received  Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  excuses  for 
being  late  with  a  very  quiet,  gentle  smile;  but  my  Lord, 
less  given  to  forgiveness,  held  his  watch  towards  Mr. 
Kennyfeck,  and  said,  "There's  always  an  excuse  for  a 
man  of  business,  sir,  or  this  would  be  very  reprehensible.'* 
P'ortunately  for  all  parties  the  company  now  poured  in 
faster;  every  instant  saw  some  two  or  three  arrive.  Indeed, 
with  such  speed  did  they  appear,  it  seemed  as  if  they  had 
all  waited  for  a  movement  en  masse  :  judges  and  generals, 
with  nieces  and  daughters  matiifold,  country  gentlemen, 
clients,  the  elite  of  Dublin  diners-out,  the  Whites,  the 
Rigbys,  with  their  ringleted  girls,  the  young  member  for 
Macturk,  the  Solicitor-General  and  Mrs.  Knivett,  and,  at 
last,  escorted  by  his  statT  of  curates  and  small  vicars,  came 
"the  Dean"  himself,  conducting  a  very  learned  dissertation 


126  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

on  the  musical  properties  of  the  "Chickgankazoo,"  —  a 
three-stringed  instrument  of  an  African  tribe,  and  which 
he  professed  to  think  "admirably  adapted  for  country  con- 
gregations too  poor  to  buy  an  organ!  Any  one  could  play 
it,  Softly  could  play  it,  Mrs.  Kennyfeek  could  —  " 

"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Dean?"  said  that  lady,  in  her 
sweetest  of  voices. 

The  Dean  accepted  the  offered  hand,  but,  without  attend- 
ing to  the  salutation,  went  on  with  a  very  curious  argument 
respecting  the  vocal  chords  in  the  human  throat,  which  he 
promised  to  demonstrate  on  any  thin  lady  in  the  company. 

The  Chief  Secretary's  fortunate  arrival,  however,  rescued 
the  devoted  fair  one  from  the  Dean's  scientific  ardor;  for 
Mr.  Meek  was  a  great  personage  in  the  chief  circles  of 
Dublin.  Any  ordinary  manner,  in  comparison  with  Mr. 
Downie  Meek's,  would  be  as  linsey-woolsey  to  three-pile 
velvet!  There  was  a  yielding  softness,  a  delicious  com- 
pliance about  him,  which  won  him  the  world's  esteem,  and 
pointed  him  out  to  the  Cabinet  as  the  very  man  to  be 
"Secretary  for  Ireland."  Conciliation  would  be  a  weak 
word  to  express  the  suave  but  winning  gentleness  of  his 
official  dealings.  The  most  frank  of  men,  he  was  un- 
bounded in  professions,  and  if  so  elegant  a  person  could 
have  taken  a  hint  from  so  humble  a  source,  we  should  say 
that  he  had  made  his  zoological  studies  available  and  imi- 
tated the  cuttle-fish,  since  when  close  penned  by  an  enemy 
he  could  always  escape  by  muddying  the  water.  In  this 
great  dialectic  of  the  Castlereagh  school  he  was  perfect,  and 
could  become  totally  unintelligible  at  the  shortest  notice. 

After  a  few  almost  whispered  words  to  his  hostess,  Mr. 
Meek  humbly  requested  to  be  presented  to  Mr.  Cashel. 
Roland,  who  was  then  standing  beside  Miss  Kennyfeek, 
and  listening  to  a  rather  amusing  catalogue  of  the  guests, 
advanced  to  make  the  Secretary's  acquaintance.  Mr. 
Downie  Meek's  approaches  were  perfect,  and  in  the  few 
words  he  spoke,  most  favorably  impressed  Cashel  with  his 
unpretentious,  unaffected  demeanor. 

"Are  we  waiting  for  any  one,  Mr.  Kennyfeek?  "  said  his 
spouse,  with  a  delicious  simplicity  of  voice. 

"Oh,  certainly!"   exclaimed  her  less  accomplished  bus* 


THE   GREAT   KENNYFECK   DINNER.  127 

band;  "Sir  Andrew  and  Lady  Janet  MacFarline  and  Lord 
Charles  Frobisher  have  not  arrived." 

"It  appears  to  ?7^e,"  —  a  favorite  expression  of  his  Lord- 
ship, with  a  strong  emphasis  on  the  pronoun,  — "it  appears 
to  W6,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff,  "that  Sir  Andrew  MacFarline 
waits  for  the  tattoo  at  the  Royal  Barrack  to  dress  for 
dinner;"  and  he  added,  somewhat  lower,  "I  made  a  vow, 
which  I  regret  to  have  broken  to-day,  never  to  dine  wher- 
ever he  is  invited." 

"Here  they  come!  here  they  come  at  last,"  cried  out 
several  voices  together,  as  the  heavy  tread  of  carriage- 
horses  was  heard  advancing,  and  the  loud  summons  of  the 
footman  resounded  through  the  square. 

Sir  Andrew  and  Lady  Janet  MacFarline  were  announced 
in  Mr.  Pearse's  most  impressive  manner;  and  then,  after  a 
slight  pause,  as  if  to  enable  the  company  to  recover  them- 
selves from  the  shock  of  such  august  names,  Lord  Charles 
Frobisher  and  Captain  Foster. 

Sir  Andrew  was  a  tall,  raw-boned,  high-cheeked  old  man, 
with  a  white  head,  red  nose,  and  a  very  Scotch  accent, 
whose  manners,  after  forty  years'  training,  still  spoke  of 
the  time  that  he  carried  a  halbert  in  the  "Black  Watch." 
Lady  Janet  was  a  little,  grim- faced,  gray-eyed  old  lady, 
with  a  hunch,  who,  with  a  most  inveterate  peevishness  of 
voice  and  a  most  decided  tendency  to  make  people  un- 
happy, was  the  terror  of  the  garrison. 

"We  hae  na  kept  ye  waitin',  Mrs.  Kannyfack,  I  humbly 
hope?"  said  Sir  Andrew. 

"A  good  forty  minutes.  Sir  Andrew,"  broke  in  Lord 
Kilgoff,  showing  his  watch;  "but  you  are  always  the 
last." 

"He  was  not  recorded  as  such  in  the  official  despatch 
from  'Maida,'  my  Lord,"  said  Lady  Janet,  fiercely;  ''but 
with  some  people  there  is  more  virtue  in  being  early  at 
dinner  than  first  up  the  breach   in  an  assault!" 

"The  siege  will  always  keep  hot,  my  Lady,"  interposed 
a  very  well- whiskered  gentleman  in  a  blue  coat  and  two 
inside  waistcoats;   "the  soup  will    not." 

"Ah,  Mr.  Linton,"  said  she,  holding  out  two  fingers, 
"why  were  n't  you  at  our  picnic?  "     Then  she  added,  lower: 


128  KOLAND  CASHEL. 

"Give  me  your  arm  in  to  dinner.  I  can't  bear  that  tire- 
some old  man."  Linton  bowed  and  seemed  delighted, 
while  a  scarcely  perceptible  motion  of  the  brows  conveyed 
an  apology  to  Miss  Kenny  feck. 

Dinner  was  at  length  announced,  and  after  a  little  of 
what  Sir  Andrew  called  "clubbing  the  battalions,"  they 
descended  in  a  long  procession.  Cashel,  after  vainly  essay- 
ing to  secure  either  of  the  Kennyfeck  girls  as  his  com- 
panion, being  obliged  to  pair  off  with  Mrs.  White,  the  lady 
who  always  declined,  but  never  failed  to  come. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  in  the  physiology  of  Amphytrionism, 
that  second-class  people  can  always  succeed  in  a  "great 
dinner,"  though  they  fail  egregiously  in  all  attempts  at  a 
small  party.  We  reserve  the  reason  for  another  time,  to 
record  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  table  was  both  costly 
and  splendid.  The  soups  were  admirable,  the  Madeira  per- 
fect in  flavor,  the  pates  as  hot  and  the  champagne  as  cold, 
the  fish  as  fresh  and  the  venison  as  long  kept,  the  curry  as 
high  seasoned  and  the  pine-apple  ice  as  delicately  simple, 
as  the  most  refined  taste  could  demand.  The  material 
enjoyments  were  provided  with  elegance  and  abundance, 
and  the  guests  —  the  little  chagrin  of  the  long  waitingj  over 
—  all  disposed  to  be  chatty  and  agreeable. 

Like  a  tide  first  breaking  on  a  low  strand,  in  small  and 
tiny  ripples,  then  gradually  coming  bolder  in,  with  courage 
more  assured,  and  greater  force,  the  conversation  of  a  din- 
ner usually  runs;  till  at  last  at  the  high  flood  the  great 
waves  tumble  madly  one  upon  another,  and  the  wild  chorus 
of  the  clashing  water  wakes  up  "the  spirit  of  the  storm." 

Even  without  the  aid  of  the  "Physiologic  du  Gout," 
people  will  talk  of  eating  while  they  eat;  and  so  the  chit- 
chat was  cuisine  in  all  its  moods  and  tenses,  each  bringing 
to  the  common  stock  some  new  device  in  cookery,  and 
some  anecdotes  of  his  travelled  experience  in  "gourman- 
dise,"  and  while  Mr.  Linton  and  Lord  Charles  celebrated 
the  skill  of  the  "Cadran,"  or  the  "Schwau  "  at  Vienna,  the 
Dean  was  critically  explaining  to  poor  Mrs.  Kennyfeck 
that  Homer's  heroes  had  probably  the  most  perfect  rSti  tluit 
ever  was  served,  the  juices  of  the  meat  being  preserved  in 
such  large  masses. 


THE   GREAT   KENNYFECK    DINNER.  129 

"Soles,  with  a  'gratin'  of  fiue  gingerbread,  I  saw  at 
Metternich's,"  said  Mr.  Linton,  "and  they  were  excellent." 

"I  like  old  Jules  Perregaux's  idea  better,  what  he  calls 
his  cotelettes  a  la  financiere.'" 

"What  are  they?     I  never  tasted  them." 

"Very  good  mutton  cutlets  en  'paiVillotte^  the  envelopes 
being  billets  de  banque  of  a  thousand  francs  each." 

"Is  it  permitted  to  help  one's  self  twice,  my  Lord?" 

"I  called  for  the  dish  again,  but  found  it  had  been  too 
successful.  De  Brigues  did  a  neat  thing  that  way,  in  a 
little  supper  he  gave  to  the  artistes  of  the  Opera-Comique; 
the  jellies  were  all  served  with  rings  in  them,  —  turquoise, 
diamond,  emerald,  pearl,  and  so  on,  —  so  that  the  fair 
guests  had  all  the  excitement  of  a  lottery  as  the  i)lat  came 
round  to  them." 

"The  kick-shaws  required  something  o'  that  kind  to 
make  them  endurable,"  said  Sir  Andrew,  gruffly;  "gie  me 
a  haggis,  or  a  cockie-leekie." 

"What  is  that?  "  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  who  saw  with  a 
sharp  malice  how  angrily  Lady  Janet  looked  at  the  notion 
of  the  coming  explanation. 

"I  '11  tell  ye  wi'  pleasure.  Miss  Kannyfack,  hoo  to  mak' 
a  cockie-leekie!  " 

"Cockie-leekie,  ?«??,c?e  f^erivafw?' cockie-leekie?  "  cried  the 
Dean,  who,  having  taken  a  breathing  canter  through  Homer 
and  Horace,  was  quite  ready  for  the  moderns. 

"What,  sir?  "  asked  Sir  Andrew,  not  understanding  the 
question. 

"I  say,  what 's  the  derivation  of  your  cockie-leekie, —  the 
etymology  of  the  phrase?" 

"I  dinna  ken,  and  I  dinna  care.  It  *s  mair  needfu'  that 
one  kens  hoo  to  mak'  it  than  to  speer  wha  gave  it  the 
name  of  cockie-leekie." 

"More  properly  pronounced,  coq  a  lecher^''*  said  the 
inexorable  Dean.     "The  dish  is  a  French  one." 

"Did  ever  any  one  hear  the  like?  "  exclaimed  Sir 
Andrew,  utterly  confounded  by  the  assertion. 

"I  confess.  Sir  Andrew,"  said  Linton,  "it's  rather  hard 
on  Scotland.  They  say  you  stole  all  your  ballnd-nuisic 
from  Italy,  and  now  they  claim  your  cookery  for  France!  " 

VOL.  I.  — 9 


130  ROLAND   CASIIEL. 

"The  record,"  said  the  Attorney-General,  across  the 
table,  "was  tried  at  Trim.  Your  Lordships  sat  with  the 
Chief  Baron." 

"I  remember  perfectly;  we  agreed  that  the  King's  Bench 
ruled  right,  and  that  the  minor's  claim  was  substantiated." 
Then  turning  to  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  who  out  of  politeness  had 
affected  to  take  interest  in  what  she  could  not  even  under- 
stand a  syllable  of,  he  entered  into  a  very  learned  disserta- 
tion on  "heritable  property,"  and  the  great  ditficulties  that 
lay  in  the  way  of  defining  its  limits. 

Meanwhile  "pipeclay,"  as  is  not  unsuitably  styled  mess- 
table  talk,  passed  among  the  military,  with  the  usual 
quizzing  about  regimental  oddities.  Brownrigg's  cob, 
Hanshaw's  whiskers,  Talbot's  buggy,  and  Carey's  inimi- 
table recipe  for  punch,  the  Dean  throwing  in  his  negatives 
here  and  there,  to  show  that  nothing  was  "too  hot  or  too 
heavy"  for  his  intellectual  fingers. 

"Bad  law!  Mr.  Chief  Justice,"  said  he,  in  an  authorita- 
tive tone.  "Doves  in  a  cot,  and  coneys  in  a  warren,  go  to 
the  heir.     With  respect  to  deer — " 

"Oh  dear,  how  tiresome!"  whispered  Mrs.  White  to 
Cashel,  who  most  heartily  assented  to  the  exclamation. 

"What's  the  name  o'  that  beastie,  young  gentleman?" 
said  Sir  Andrew,  who  overheard  Cashel  recounting  some 
circumstances  of  Mexican  life. 

"The  chiguire, — the  wild  hog  of  the  Caraccas,"  said 
Cashel.  "They  are  a  harmless  sort  of  animal,  and  lead 
somewhat  an  unhappy  life  of  it;  for  when  they  escape  the 
crocodile  in  the  river,  they  are  certain  to  fall  into  the  jaws 
of  the  jaguar  on  land." 

"Pretty  much  like  a  member  o'  the  Scotch  Kirk  in  Ire- 
land," said  Sir  Andrew,  "wi'  Episcopaalians  on  the  tae 
haun,  and  Papishes  on  the  tither.  Are  thae  creatures  gude 
to  eat,  sir?  " 

"The  flesh  is  excellent,"  broke  in  the  Dean.  "They  are 
the  Cavia-Cwpyhara  of  Linnaeus,  and  far  superior  to  our 
European  swine." 

"I  only  know,"  said  Cashel,  abruptly,  "that  we  never 
eat  them,  except  when  nothing  else  was  to  be  had.  They 
are   rancid  and  fishy." 


THE   GREAT  KENNYFECK  DINNER.  131 

*'A  mere  prejudice,  sir,"  responded  the  Dean.  "If  you 
taste  the  chiguire,  to  use  the  vulgar  name,  and  let  liim  lie 
in  steep  in  a  white-wine  vinegar,  en  marinade^  as  the 
French  say — " 

"Where  are  you  to  find  the  white-wine  vinegar  in  the 
Savannahs?"  said  Cashel.  "You  forget,  sir,  that  we  are 
speaking  of  a  country  where  a  fowl  roasted  in  its  own 
feathers  is  a  delicacy." 

"Oh,  how  very  singular!  Do  you  mean  that  you  eat  it, 
feathers  and  all?"  said  Mrs.   White. 

"No,  madam.  It's  a  prairie  dish,  which,  I  assure  you, 
after  all,  is  not  to  be  despised.  The  plat  is  made  this 
way.  You  take  a  fowl,  —  the  wild  turkey,  when  lucky 
enough  to  find  one,  —  and  cover  him  all  over  with  soft  red 
clay;  the  river  clay  is  the  best.  You  envelop  him  com- 
pletely; in  fact,  you  make  a  great  ball,  somewhat  the  size 
of  a  man's  head.  This  done,  you  light  a  fire,  and  bake  the 
mass.  It  requires,  probably,  five  or  six  hours  to  make  the 
clay  perfectly  hard  and  dry.  When  it  cracks,  the  dish  is 
done.  You  then  break  open  the  shell,  to  the  outside  of 
which  the  feathers  adhere,  and  the  fowl,  deliciously  roasted, 
stands  before  you." 

"How  very  excellent,  —  le  poulet  braise  of  the  French, 
exactly,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff. 

"How  cruel!"  "How  droll!"  "How  very  shocking!" 
resounded  through  the  table ;  the  Dean  the  only  one  silent, 
for  it  was  a  theme  on  which,  most  singular  to  say,  he  could 
neither  record  a  denial  nor  a  correction. 

"I  vote  for  a  picnic,"  cried  Mrs.  White,  "and  Mr. 
Cashel  shall  cook  us  his  dinde  a  la  Mexicaine." 

"An  excellent  thought,"  said  several  of  the  younger  part 
of  the  company. 

"A  very  bad  one,  in  my  notion,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff,  who 
had  no  fancy  for  seeing  her  Ladyship  scaling  cliffs,  and 
descending  steep  paths,  vvlien  his  own  frail  limbs  did  not 
permit  of  accompanying  her.  "Picnics  are  about  as  vulgar 
a  pastime  as  one  can  imagine.  Your  dinner  la  ever  a  fail- 
ure; your  wine  detestable;  your  table  equipage  arrives 
smashed  or  topsy-turvy  —  " 

^^  Unde  topsy-turvy?  —  iwde^  topsy-turvy,  Softly?"  said 


132  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

the  Dean,  turning  fiercely  on  the  curate.  "  Whence  tops}^- 
turvy  ?  Do  you  give  it  up  ?  Do  you,  Mr.  Attorney  ?  Do 
you,  my  Lord?  do  you  give  It  up,  eh?  I  thought  so! 
Topsy-turvy,   quasi^  top  side  t'  other  way." 

"It's  vera  ingenious,"  said  Sir  Andrew;  "but  I  maun 
say  I  see  no  neecessity  to  be  always  looking  back  to  whare 
a  word  gat  his  birth,  parentage,  or  eddication." 

"It  suggests  unpleasant  associations,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff, 
looking  maliciously  towards  Linton,  who  was  playing  too 
agreeable  to  her  Ladyship.  "The  etymology  is  the  key  to 
the  true  meaning.  Sir,  many  of  those  expressions  popularly 
termed  bulls  —  ' 

"Oh,  a  propos  of  bulls,"  said  Mr.  Meek,  in  his  sweetest 
accent,  "did  you  hear  of  a  very  singular  outrage  committed 
yesterday  upon  the  Lord  Lieutenant's  beautiful  Swiss 
bull?" 

"  Did  the  Dean  pass  an  hour  with  him  ?  "  whispered  Lin- 
ton to  Lady  Janet,  who  hated  the  dignitary. 

"It  must  have  been  done  by  mesmerism,  I  fancy," 
rejoined  Mr.  Meek.  "The  animal,  a  most  fierce  one,  was 
discovered  lying  in  his  paddock,  so  perfectly  fettered,  head, 
horns,  and  feet,  that  he  could  not  stir.  There  is  every 
reason  to  connect  the  outrage  with  a  political  meaning;  for 
in  this  morning's  paper,  'The  Green  Isle,'  there  is  a  letter 
from  Mr.  O'Bleather,  with  a  most  significant  allusion  to 
the  occurrence.  *The  time  is  not  distant,'  says  he,  'when 
John  Bull,'  — marli  the  phrase,  — 'tied,  fettered,  and  tram- 
melled, shall  lie  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  the  once  victim  of 
his  tyranny.'  " 

"The  sedition  is  most  completely  proven  by  the  signili- 
cance  of  the  act,"  cried  out  the  Chief  Justice. 

"We  have,  consequently,  offered  a  reward  for  the  dis- 
covery of  the  perpetrators  of  this  insolent  offence,  alike  a 
crime  against  property,  as  an  act  subversive  of  the  respect- 
ful feeling  due  to  the  representative  of  the  sovereign." 

"What  is  the  amount  offered?  "  said  Cashel. 

"One  hundred  pounds,  for  such  information  as  may  lead 
to  the  conviction  of  the  person  or  persons  transgressing," 
replied  the  Attorney-General. 

"I  feel  it  would  be  very  unfair  to  suffer  the  Government 


THE   GREAT   KENNYFECK  DINNER. 


133 


to  proceed  in  an  error  as  to  the  affair  in  question;  so  that 
I  shall  claim  the  reward,  and  deliver  up  the  offender," 
replied  Cashel,   smiling. 

*'Who  can  it  be?  "  cried  Mr.  Meek,  in  astonishment. 

"Myself,  sir,"  said  Cashel.  "If  you  should  proceed  by 
indictment,  as  you  speak  of,  I  hope  the  Misses  Kenny  feck 
may  not  have  to  figure  as  'aiding  and  abetting,'  for  they 
were  present  when  I  lassoed  the  animal." 

"Lassoed  the  Swiss  bull!  "  exclaimed  several  together. 


'4^'  -   ^  i 


-^  t 


c,r  I  ^ 


"Nothing  more  simple,"  said  the  Dean,  holding  up  his 
napkin  over  Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  head,  to  the  manifest  terror 
of  that  lady  for  her  yellow  turban.  "You  take  the  loop  of 
a  long  light  rope,  and,  measuring  the  distance  with  your 
eye,   you  make  the  cast,   in  this  manner  — " 

"Oh  dear!  oh,  Mr.  Dean;  my  bird-of-paradise  plume!" 

"When  you  represent  a  bull,  ma'am,  you  should  not  have 
feathers,"  rejoined  the  implacable  Dean,  with  a  very  rough 
endeavor  to  restore  the  broken  plume.  "  Had  you  held  your 
liead  lower  down,  in  the  attitude  of  a  bull's  attack,  I  should 
liave  lassoed  you  at  once,  and  without  diriiculty." 

"Lasso  is  part  of  the  verb  'to  weary,'  'to  fatigue,'  'to 


134  ROLAND  CASHEL 

ennuyer^'  in  fact,"  said  Mr.  Linton,  with  an  admirably- 
put-on  simplicity;  and  a  very  general  smile  ran  through  the 
company. 

"When  did  you  see  Gosford?"  said  Meek,  addressing 
one  of  the  hussar  oflScers,  eager  to  relieve  the  momentary 
embarrassment. 

"Not  for  six  months;  he  's  in  Paris  now." 

''Does  he  mention  me  in  his  letter  to  you?" 

"He  does,"  said  the  other,  but  with  an  evident  constraint, 
and  a  side-look  as  he  ended. 

''Yes,  faith,  he  forgets  nane  of  us,"  said  Sir  Andrew, 
with  a  grin.  "He  asks  after  Kannyfack,  — ould  sax-and- 
eightpence,  he  ca's  you,  —  and  says  he  wished  you  were  at 
Paris,  to  gie  him  a  dinner  at  the  —  what  d'  ye  ca'  it?  —  the 
Roshy  de  something.  1  see  he  has  a  word  for  ye,  my  Lord 
Kilgoff.  He  wants  to  know  whether  my  leddie  is  like  to 
gie  ye  an  heir  to  the  ancient  house  o'  Kilgoff,  in  whilk  case 
he  '11  no  be  so  fond  of  playing  ecarte  wi'  George  Lushing- 
ton,  wha  has  naething  to  pay  wi'  except  post-obits  on  yer 
lordship, — he,  he,  he!  Ay,  and  Charlie,  my  man,"  con- 
tinued he,  turning  to  the  aide-de-camp,  Lord  Charles  Fro- 
bisher,  "he  asks  if  ye  hauld  four  by  honors  as  often  as  ye 
used  formerly;  he  says  there  's  a  fellow  at  Paris  ye  could  n't 
hold  a  candle  to,  —  he  never  deals  the  adversary  a  card 
higher  than  the  nine." 

The  whole  company,  probably  in  relief  to  the  evident 
dismay  created  by  the  allusion  to  Lord  Kilgoff,  laughed 
heartily  at  this  sally,  and  none  more  than  the  good-looking 
fellow  the  object  of  it. 

"But  what  of  Meek,  sir?  —  what  does  he  say  of 
Downie?" 

"He  says  vera  little  about  Mister  Meek,  ava*,  he  only 
inquires  what  changes  we  have  in  the  poleetical  world,  and 
where  is  that  d — d  humbug,  Downie  Meek  ?  " 

Another  and  a  heartier  laugh  now  ran  through  the  room, 
in  which  Mr.  Downie  Meek  cast  the  most  imploring  looks 
around  him. 

"Well,"  cried  he,  at  last,  "that's  not  fair;  it  is  really 
not  fair  of  Gosford.  I  appeal  to  this  excellent  company  if 
I  deserve  the  title." 


THE   GREAT  KENNYFECK  DINNER.  135 

A  chorus  of  negatives  went  the  round,  with  most  energetic 
assurances  of  dissenting  from  the  censure  of  the  letter. 

"  Come  now,  Sir  Andrew,"  said  Meek,  who  for  once, 
losing  his  balance,  would  not  even  omit  him  in  the  number 
of  approving  voices,  —  "  come,  now.  Sir  Andrew,  1  ask  you 
frankly,  am  I  a  humbug?  " 

''  I  canna  tell,"  said  the  cautious  old  general,  with  a  sly 
shake  of  the  head;  "I  can  only  say,  sir,  be  ma  saul,  ye 
never  humbugged  me  !  " 

This  time  the  laugh  was  sincere,  and  actually  shook  the 
table.  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  who  now  saw  that  Sir  Andrew,  to 
use  the  phrase  employed  by  his  acquaintances,  "was  up," 
determined  to  withdraw,  and  made  her  telegraphic  signals, 
which  soon  were  answered  along  the  line,  save  by  Lady 
Janet,  who  stubbornly  adhered  to  her  glass  of  claret,  with 
some  faint  hope  that  the  lagging  decanter  might  arrive  in 
her  neighborhood  time  enough   for  another. 

Poor  Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  devices  to  catch  her  eye  were  all 
in  vain  ;  as  well  might  some  bore  of  the  "  House  "  hope  for 
the  Speaker's  when  he  was  fixedly  exchanging  glances  with 
"  Sir  Robert."     She  ogled  and  smiled,  but  to  no  purpose. 

"  My  Leddy,  —  Leddy  Janet,"  said  Sir  Andrew. 

"I  hear  you,  sir;  I  heard  you  twice  already.  If  you 
please,  my  Lord,  a  very  little,  — Mr.  Linton,  I  beg  for  the 
water.  I  believe.  Sir  Andrew,  you  have  forgotten  Mr. 
Gosford's  kind  remembrances  to  the  Dean." 

"  Faith,  and  so  I  did,  my  Leddy.  He  asks  after  ye,  Mr. 
Dean,  wi'  muckle  kindness  and  affection,  and  says  he  never 
had  a  hearty  laugh  syne  the  day  ye  tried  to  teach  Lady 
Caroline  Jedyard  to  catch   a  sheep !  " 

The  Dean  looked  stern,  and  Linton  asked  for  the  secret. 

"  It  was  by  handing  the  beast  atween  yer  knees,  and  so 
when  the  Dean  pit  himself  i'  the  proper  position,  wi'  his 
legs  out,  and  the  shepherd  drove  the  flock  towards  him,  by 
sair  ill-luck  it  was  a  ram  cam  first  and  he  hoisted  liis  rever- 
ence up  i'  the  air,  and  then  laid  him  flat  on  his  back,  amaist 
dead.  Ech,  sirs!  but  it  was  a  sair  fa',  no*  to  speak  o'  the 
damage  done  to  his  black  breeches !  " 

Tliis  was  too  much  for  Lady  Janet's  endurance,  and, 
amid  tlie  loud  laugliter  of  some,  and  the  more  diliicultly 
suppressed  mirth  of  others,  the  ladies  arose. 


136  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Yer  na  going,  leddies!  I  hope  that  naething  I  said, 
Leddy  Kilgoff,  Leddy  Janet,  ech.  We  mun  e'en  console 
ourselves  wi'  the  claret."  This  was  said  sotto^  as  the  door 
closed  and  the  party  reseated  themselves  at  the  table. 

"My  Jo  Janet  does  like  to  bide  a  wee,"  muttered  he,  half 
aloud. 

"Jo!  "  cried  the  Dean,  "is  derived  from  the  Italian;  it 's 
a  term  of  endearment  in  both  languages.  It 's  a  corruption 
of  Gioia  mia.^* 

"What  may  that  mean?  " 

"My  joy!  my  life!  " 

"Eh,  that's  it,  is  it?  Ah,  sir,  these  derivatives  gat 
mony  a  twist  and  turn  in  the  way  from  one  land  to  the 
tither!  "  And  with  this  profound  bit  of  moralizing,  he 
sipped  his  glass  in  revery. 

The  conversation  now  became  more  general,  fewer  per- 
sonalities arose;  and  as  the  Dean,  after  a  few  efforts  to  cor- 
rect statements  respecting  the  "pedigrees  of  race- horses," 
"the  odds  at  hazard,"  "the  soundings  upon  the  coral  reefs," 
"the  best  harpoons  for  the  sulphur-bottomed  whales,"  only 
made  new  failures,  he  sulked  and  sat  silent,  permitting  talk 
to  take  its  course  uninterrupted.  The  hussar  baronet  paid 
marked  attention  to  Cashel,  and  invited  him  to  the  mess 
for  the  day  following.  Lord  Charles  overheard  the  invita- 
tion, and  said,  "I'll  join  the  party;"  while  Mr.  Meek, 
leaning  over  the  table,  in  a  low  whisper  begged  Cashel  to 
preserve  the  whole  bull  adventure  a  secret,  as  the  press  was 
really  a  most  malevolent  thing  in  Ireland! 

During  the  while  the  Chief  Justice  slept  profoundly,  only 
waking  as  the  bottle  came  before  him,  and  then  dropping 
off  again.  The  Attorney-General,  an  overworked  man  of 
business,  spoke  little  and  guardedly,  so  that  the  conversa- 
tion, principally  left  to  the  younger  members  of  the  party, 
ranged  over  the  accustomed  topics  of  hunting,  shooting, 
and  deer-stalking,  varied  by  allusion,  on  Cashel's  part,  to 
sports  of  far  higher,  because  more  dangerous,  excitement. 

In  the  pleasant  flurry  of  being  attentively  listened  to,  — 
a  new  sensation  for  Roland,  —  he  arose  and  ascended  to 
the  drawing-room,  where  already  a  numerous  party  of 
refreshers  had  arrived.     Here  asrain  Cashel  discovered  that 


THE   GREAT   KENNYFECK  DINNER.  137 

he  was  a  person  of  uotoriely,  and  as,  notwithstanding  all 
Mr.  Downie  Meek's  precaution,  the  ''lasso  "  story  had  got 
abroad,  the  most  wonderful  versions  of  the  incident  were 
repeated  on  every  side. 

"How  did  you  say  he  effected  it,  Mr.  Linton?"  said  the 
old  deaf  Countess  of  Dumdrum,  making  an  ear- trumpet  of 
her  hand. 

"By  doing  what  Mr.  Meek  won't  do  with  the  Catholics, 
my  Lady,  —  taking  the  bull  by  the  horns." 

"Don't  you  think  he  found  conciliation  of  service 
besides?  "  suggested  Mr.  Meek,  with  an  angelic  simplicity. 

"Isn't  he  handsome!  how  graceful!  So  like  a  Corsair, 
—  one  of  Byron's  heroes.  I  'm  dying  to  know  him.  Dear 
me,  how  those  Kennyfeck  girls  eat  him  up.  Olivia  never 
takes  her  eyes  off  him.  He  looks  so  bored,  poor  fellow! 
he  's  longing  to  be  let  alone."  Such  were  the  muttered 
comments  on  the  new  object  of  Dublin  curiosity,  who  him- 
self was  very  far  from  suspecting  that  his  personal  distinc- 
tion had  less  share  in  his  popularity  than  his  rent-roll  and 
his  parchments. 

As  we  are  more  desirous  of  recording  the  impression  he 
himself  created,  than  of  tracing  how  others  appeared  to 
him,  we  shall  make  a  noiseless  turn  of  the  salons,  and,  spy- 
fashion,  listen  behind  the  chairs. 

"So  you  don't  think  him  even  good-looking,  Lady 
Kilgoff?"  said  Mr.  Linton,  as  he  stood  half  behind  her 
seat. 

"Certainly  not  more  than  good-looking,  and  not  so 
much  as  nice-looking,  —  very  awkward,  and  ill  at  ease 
he  seems." 

"That  will  wear  off  when  he  has  the  good  taste  to  give 
up  talking  to  young  ladies,  and  devote  himself  to  the 
married  ones." 

"F^nchanting,  —  positively  enchanting,  my  dear,"  ex- 
claimed Mrs.  Leicester  White  to  a  young  friend  beside  her. 
"That  description  of  tiie  forest,  over  whicli  the  lianns 
formed  an  actual  roof,  the  golden  fruit  hanging  a  hundred 
feet  above  the  head,  was  the  most  gorgeous  picture  I  ever 
beheld." 

"I  wish  you  could  persuade  him,"  lisped  a  young  lady 


138  KOLAND  CASHEL. 

with  large  blue  eyes,  and  a  profusion  of  yellow  hair  in  ring- 
lets, "  to  write  that  little  story  of  the  Zambo  for  Lady 
Blumter's  Annual." 

"I  say,  Charlie,"  whispered  the  baronet  to  the  aide-de- 
camp, "but  he's  wide-awake,  that  Master  Cashel;  he's  a 
very  shrewd  fellow,  you'll  see." 

"Do  you  mean  to  couch  his  eyes,  Tom?"  said  Lord 
Charles,  with  his  usual  slow,  lazy  intonation;  "what  does 
he  say  about  the  races, — will  he  come?" 

"Oh,  he  can't  promise,  old  Kennyfeck  has  a  hold  upon 
him  just  now  about  law  business." 

"You  will  impress  upon  him,  my  dear  Mr.  Kennyfeck," 
said  Mr.  Meek,  who  held  the  lappet  of  the  other's  coat, 
"that  there  are  positively  —  so  to  say  —  but  two  parties  in 
the  country,  —  the  Gentleman  and  the  Jacobin.  Whig  and 
Tory,  orange  and  green,  have  had  their  day ;  and  the  ques- 
tion is  now  between  those  who  have  something  to  lose,  and 
those  who  have  everything  to  gain." 

"I  really  could  wish  that  you,  who  are  so  far  better 
qualified  than  I  am  to  explain  —  " 

"So  1  will;  I  intend,  my  dear  sir.  Now,  when  can  you 
dine  with  me?  You  must  come  this  week;  next  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  be  in  London.  Shall  we  say  Wednesday? 
Wednesday  be  it.  Above  all,  take  care  that  he  doesn't 
even  meet  any  of  that  dangerous  faction,  —  those  Morgans. 
They  are  the  very  people  to  try  a  game  of  ascendancy  over 
a  young  man  of  great  prospects  and  large  fortune.  O'Growl 
wants  a  few  men  of  standing  to  give  an  air  of  substance 
and  respectability  to  the  movement.  Lord  Witherton  will 
be  most  kind  to  your  young  friend,  but  you  must  press 
upon  him  the  necessity  of  being  presented  at  once.  We 
want  to  make  him  a  D.L.,  and  if  he  enters  Parliament,  to 
give  him  the  lieutenancy  of  the  county." 

While  all  these  various  criticisms  were  circulating,  and 
amid  an  atmosphere,  as  it  were,  impregnated  by  plots  and 
schemes  of  every  kind,  Cashel  stood  a  very  amused  spec- 
tator of  a  scene  wherein  he  never  knew  he  was  the  chief 
actor.  It  would  indeed  have  seemed  incredible  to  him  that 
he  could,  by  any  change  of  fortune,  become  an  object  of 
interested   speculation   to   lords,    ladies,    members   of   the 


THE   GREAT  KENNYFECK  DINNER.  139 

Government,  Church  dignitaries,  and  others.  He  was 
unaware  that  the  man  of  fortune,  with  a  hand  to  offer,  a 
considerable  share  of  the  influence  property  always  gives, 
livings  to  bestow,  and  money  to  lose,  may  be  a  very  legiti- 
mate mark  for  the  enterprising  schemes  of  mammas  and 
ministers,  suggesting  hopes  alike  to  black-coats  and  black- 
legs. 

Perhaps,  among  the  pleasant  bits  of  credulity  which  we 
enjoy  through  life,  there  is  none  sweeter  than  that  implicit 
faith  we  repose  in  the  cordial  expressions  and  flattering 
opinions  bestowed  uix)n  us,  when  starting  in  the  race,  by 
many  who  merely,  in  the  jockey  phrase,  "standing  to  win '' 
upon  us,  have  their  OAvn,  and  not  our  interest  before  them 
in  the  encouragement  they  bestow. 

The  discovery  of  the  cheat  is  soon  made,  and  we  are  too 
prone  to  revenge  our  own  over-confidence  by  a  general  dis- 
trust, from  which,  again,  experience,  later  on,  rallies  us. 
So  that  a  young  man's  course  is  usually  from  over-sim- 
plicity to  over-shrewdness,  and  then  again  to  that  negligent 
half-faith  which  either,  according  to  the  calibre  of  the 
wearer,  conceals  deep  knowledge  of  life,  or  hides  a  mis- 
taken notion  of  it.  Let  us  return  to  Cashel,  who  now  stood 
at  the  table,  around  which  a  considerable  number  of  the 
party  were  grouped,  examining  a  number  of  drawings, 
which  Mr.  Pepystell,  the  fashionable  architect,  had  that 
day  sent  for  Roland's  inspection;  houses,  villas,  castles, 
cottages,  abbeys,  shooting-boxes,  gate-lodges,  Tudor  and 
Saxon,  Norman  and  Saracenic,  — everything  that  the  mor- 
bid imagination  of  architecture  run  mad  could  devise  and 
amalgamate  between  the  chaste  elegance  of  the  Greek  and 
the  tinkling  absurdity  of  the  Chinese. 

"I  do  so  love  a  cottage  ornee^'*  said  Mrs.  White,  taking 
up  a  very  beautiful  representation  of  one,  where  rose- 
colored  curtains,  and  a  group  on  a  grass-plot,  with  gay 
dresses  and  parasols,  entered  into  the  composite  architec- 
ture.    "To  my  fancy,  that  would  be  a  very  paradise." 

"Oh,  mamma!  isn't  that  so  like  dear  old  Kilgoran!" 
said  a  tall,  thin  young  lady,  handing  an  abbey,  us  large  as 
Westminster,   to  another  in  widow's  black. 

"Oh,  Maria!     I  wonder  at  your  showing  me  what  must 


140  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

bring  up  such  sad  memories!*'  said  the  mamma,  affectedly, 
while  she  pressed  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes. 

''If  she  means  her  father's  house,"  said  Lady  Janet  to 
Linton,  "it's  about  as  like  a  like  as  —  Lord  Kilgoff  to  the 
Farnese  Hercules,  or  his  wife  to  any  other  lady  in  the 
peerage." 

"You  remember  Kilgoran,  my  Lord,"  said  the  lady  in 
black  to  the  Chief  Justice;  "does  that  remind  you  of  it?  " 

"Very  like, — very  like,  indeed,  madam,"  said  the  old 
judge,  looking  at  a  rock-work  grotto  in  a  fish-pond. 

"What 's  this?  "  cried  another,  taking  up  a  great  Saxon 
fortress,  with  bastions  and  gate-towers  and  curtains,  as 
gloomy  and  sombre  as  Indian-ink  could  make  it. 

"As  a  residence  I  think  that  is  far  too  solemn-looking 
and  sad." 

"What  did  you  say  it  was,  sir?"  asked  the  judge. 

"The  elevation  for  the  new  jail  at  Naas,  my  Lord," 
replied  Linton,   gravely. 

"I  'm  very  glad  to  hear  it.  We  have  been  sadly  crippled 
for  room  there  latterly." 

"Do  you  approve  of  the  Panopticon  plan,  my  Lord?" 
said  Mrs.  White,  who  never  omitted  a  question  when  a 
hard  word  could  be  introduced. 

"It  is,  madam, — you  are  perfectly  correct,"  said  the 
obsequious  old  judge,  — "very  much  the  same  kind  of  thing 
as  the  Pantechnicon." 

"Talking  of  Panopticon,  where 's  Kilgoff?"  whispered 
Linton  to  one  of  the  hussars. 

"Don't  you  see  him  yonder,  behind  the  harp?  How  that 
poor  woman  must  be  bored  by  such  espionnage  !  " 

"If  you  mean  to  build  a  house,  sir,"  said  Lady  Janet, 
addressing  Cashel,  with  a  tone  of  authority,  "don't,  I  en- 
treat of  you,  adopt  any  of  these  absurd  outrages  upon  taste 
and  convenience,  but  have  a  good  square  stone  edifice." 

"Four,  or  even  five  stories  high,"  broke  in  Liuton, 
gravely. 

"Four  quite  enough,"  resumed  she,  "with  a  roomy  hall, 
and  all  the  reception-rooms  leading  off  it.  Let  your 
bedrooms  —  " 

"Be  numerous  enough,  at  all  events,"  said  Liuton  again. 


THE   GREAT   KENNYFECK   DINNER.  141 

"Of  course;  and  so  arranged  that  you  can  devote  one 
story  to  families  exclusively." 

"Yes;  the  gargons  should  have  their  dens  as  remote  as 
possible  from  the  quieter  regions.'* 

"Have  a  mass  of  small  sitting-rooms  beside  the  larger 
salons.  In  a  country-house  there  *s  nothing  like  letting 
people  form  their  own  little  coteries." 

"Wouldn't  you  have  a  theatre?"  asked  Mrs.  AVhite. 

"There  might  be,  if  the  circumstances  admitted.  But 
with  a  billiard-room  and  a  ball-room  —  " 

"And  a  snug  crib  for  smoking,"  whispered  one  of  the 
military. 

"I  don't  see  any  better  style  of  house,"  said  Linton, 
gravely,  "than  those  great  hotels  one  finds  on  the  Rhine, 
and  in  Germany  generally.  They  have  ample  accommoda- 
tion, and  are  so  divided  that  you  can  have  your  own  suite 
of  rooms  to  yourself." 

"Mathews  used  to  keep  house  after  that  fashion,"  said 
Lord  Kilgoff,  approaching  the  table.  "Every  one  ordered 
his  own  dinner,  and  eat  it  either  in  his  own  apartment  or  in 
the  dining-room.  You  were  invited  for  four  days,  never 
more." 

"That  was  a  great  error;  except  in  that  particular,  I 
should  recommend  the  plan  to  Mr.  Roland  Cashel's  con- 
sideration." 

"I  never  heard  of  it  before,"  said  Cashel ;  "  pray  enlighten 
me  on  the  subject." 

"A  very  respectable  country  gentleman,  sir,"  said  Lord 
Kilgoff,  "who  had  the  whim  to  see  his  company  without 
paying  what  he  deemed  the  heaviest  penalt}',  —  the  fatigue 
of  playing  host.  He  therefore  invited  his  friends  to  come 
and  do  what  they  pleased,  —  eat,  drink,  drive,  ride,  play, 
—  exactly  as  they  fancied ;  only  never  to  notice  him  other- 
wise than  as  one  of  the  guests." 

"I  like  his  notion  prodigiously,"  cried  Cashel;  "I  should 
be  delighted  to  imitate  him." 

"Nothing  easier,  sir,"  said  my  Lord,  "with  Mr.  Linton 
for  your  prime  minister;  the  administration  is  perfectly 
practicable." 

"Might  I  venture  on  such  a  lil)er(y?  " 


142  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Too  happy  to  be  president  of  your  council,"  said 
Linton,  gayly. 

A  very  entreating  kind  of  look  from  Olivia  Kennyfeck 
here  met  Cashel's  eyes,  and  he  remarked  that  she  left  the 
place  beside  the  table  and  walked  into  the  other  room ;  he 
himself,  although  dying  to  follow  her,  had  no  alternative 
but  to  remain  and  continue  the  conversation. 

"The  first  point,  then,"  resumed  Linton,  "is  the  house. 
In  what  state  is  your  present  mansion?" 

"A  ruin,  I  believe,"  said  CasheL 

"How  picturesque!  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Leicester  White. 

"I  fancy  not,  madam,"  rejoined  Cashel.  "I  understand 
it  is  about  the  least  prepossessing  bit  of  stone  and  mortar 
the  country  can  exhibit." 

"No  matter,  let  us  see  it;  we'll  improvise  something, 
and  get  it  ready  for  the  Christmas  holidays,"  said  Linton. 
"  We  have  —  let  us  see  —  we  have  about  two  months  for 
our  preparation,  and,  therefore,  no  time  to  lose.  We  must 
premise  to  the  honorable  company  that  our  accommodation 
is  of  the  simplest;  'roughing '  shall  be  the  order  of  the  day. 
Ladies  are  not  to  look  for  Lyons  silk  ottomans  in  their 
dressing-rooms,  nor  shall  we  promise  that  our  conservatory 
furnish  a  fresh  bouquet  for  each  fair  guest  at  breakfast." 

"Two  months  are  four  centuries!  "  said  Mrs.  White;  "we 
shall  accept  of  no  apologies  for  any  shortcomings,  after 
such  an  age  of  time  to  prepare." 

"You  can  have  your  fish  from  Limerick  every  day,"  said 
an  old  bluff-looking  gentleman  in  a  brown  wig. 

"There  's  a  capital  fellow,  called  Tom  Cox,  by  the  way, 
somewhere  down  in  that  country,  who  used  to  paint  our 
scenes  for  the  garrison  theatricals.  Could  you  make  him 
out,  he  'd  be  so  useful,"  said  one  of  the  military. 

"By  all  means  get  up  some  hurdle-racing,"  cried  another. 

Meanwhile,  Roland  Cashel  approached  Olivia  Kennyfeck, 
who  was  affecting  to  seek  for  some  piece  of  music  on  the 
pianoforte. 

"Why  do  you  look  so  sad?  "  said  he,  in  a  low  tone,  and 
seeming  to  assist  her  in  the  search. 

"Do  I?  "  said  she,  with  the  most  graceful  look  of  artless- 


THE   GREAT  KENNYFECK  DINNER.  14B 

*' There  again,  what  a  deep  sigh  that  was;  come,  pray  tell 
me,  if  I  dare  to  know,  what  has  grieved  you  ?  " 

"Oh,  nothing,  nothing  whatever.  I'm  sure  I  never  felt 
in  better  spirits.  Dear  me!  Mr.  Cashel,  how  terrified  I 
am,  there  's  that  dreadful  Lady  Janet  has  seen  us  talking 
together." 

"Well,  and  what  then?" 

"  Oh,  she  is  so  mischievous,  and  says  such  horrid,  spite- 
ful things.     It  was  she  that  said  it  —  " 

"Said  what,  — what  did  she  say?"  cried  he,  eagerly. 

"Oh,  what  have  I  done?"  exclaimed  she,  covering  her 
face  with  her  hands.  "Not  for  the  world  would  I  have  said 
the  words.  Oh,  Mr.  Cashel,  you,  who  are  so  good  and  so 
generous,  do  not  ask  me  more." 

"I  really  comprehend  nothing  of  all  this,"  said  Cashel, 
who  now  began  to  suspect  that  she  had  overheard  some 
speech  reflecting  upon  him,  and  had,  without  intending, 
revealed  it;  "at  the  same  time,  I  must  say,  if  I  had  the 
right,  I  should  insist  on  knowing  what  you  heard." 

"Perhaps  he  has  the  right,"  muttered  she,  half  aloud,  as 
if  speaking  unconsciously;  "I  believe  he  has." 

"Yes,  yes,  be  assured  of  it;  what  were  the  words?  " 

"  Oh,  I  shall  die  of  shame.  I  '11  never  be  able  to  speak 
lo  you  again;  but  don't  look  angry,  promise  that  you'll 
forget  them,  swear  you  '11  never  think  of  my  having  told 
them,   and  I  '11  try." 

"Yes,  anything,  everything;  let  me  hear  them." 

"Well,"  —  here  she  hung  her  head  till  the  long  ringlets 
fell  straight  from  hei  fair  forehead,  and  half  concealed  the 
blushing  cheek,  which  each  moment  grew  redder,  —  "I  am 
so  terrified,  but  you'll  forgive  it, — I  know  you  will, — 
well,  she  said,  looking  towards  you,  *I  am  not  acquainted 
with  this  young  gentleman  yet,  but  if  I  should  have  that 
honor  soon  I  '11  take  the  liberty  to  tell  him  that  the  worthy 
father's  zeal  in  his  service  is  ill-requited  by  his  stealing  the 
affections  of  his  youngest  daughter.'  "  Scarcely  were  the 
words  uttered,  when,  as  if  the  strength  that  sustained  her 
up  to  that  moment  suddenly  failed,  she  reeled  back  and 
sank  fainting  on  a  sofa. 

Happily  for  Cashel' s  character  for  propriety,  a  very  gen- 


144  ROLAND  CASIIKL. 

eral  rush  of  ladies,  old  and  young,  to  the  spot,  prevented 
him  taking  her  in  his  arms  and  carrying  her  to  the  balcony 
for  air;  but  a  universal  demand  for  sal  volatile,  aromatic 
vinegar,  open  windows,  and  all  the  usual  restoratives  con- 
cealed his  agitation,  which  really  was  extreme. 

"You  are  quite  well  now,  dearest,"  said  her  mamma, 
bathing  her  temples,  and  so  artistically  as  to  make  her  pale 
face  seem  even  more  beautiful  in  the  slight  dishevelment 
of  her  hair.     "It  was  the  heat." 

"Yes,  mamma,"  muttered  she,  quite  low. 

"Hem!  I  thought  so,"  whispered  Lady  Janet  to  a 
neighbor.     "She  was  too  warm." 

"I  really  wish  that  young  ladies  would  reserve  these 
scenes  for  fitting  times  and  places.  That  open  window  has 
brought  back  my  lumbago,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff. 

"The  true  treatment  for  syncope,"  broke  in  the  Dean,  "is 
not  by  stimulants.  The  want  of  blood  on  the  brain  is  pro- 
duced by  mechanical  causes,  and  you  have  merely  to  hold 
the  person  up  by  the  legs  — " 

"Oh,  Mr.  Dean!     Oh,  fie!  "  cried  twenty  voices  together. 

"The  Dean  is  only  exemplifying  his  etymology  on  'top 
side  t'other  way,'"  cried  Linton. 

"Lord  Kilgoff 's  carriage  stops  the  way,"  said  a  servant. 
And  now,  the  first  announcement  given,  a  very  general  air 
of  leave-taking  pervaded  the  company. 

''Won't  you  have  some  more  mufl^iug?  —  nothing  round 
your  throat?  —  a  little  negus,  my  Lord,  before  venturing 
into  the  night  air."  —  "  How  early  !  "  —  "  How  late  !  "  — 
"  What  a  pleasant  evening !  "  —  "  What  a  fine  night !  "  — 
"May  I  offer  you  my  arm?  —  mind  that  step  —  good- 
bye, good-bye  —  don't  forget  to-morrow."  —  "Your  shawl 
is  blue  —  that 's  Lady  Janet's."  —  "  Which  is  your  hat?  "  — 
"  That's  not  mine.  Thanks  —  don't  take  so  much  trouble." 
—  "Not  your  carriage,  it  is  the  next  but  one — mind  the 
draught."  —  A  hundred  good-nights,  and  they  are  gone  I 
So  ends  a  dinner-party,  and  of  all  the  company  not  a  ves- 
tige is  seen,  save  the  blaze  of  the  low-burned  wax-lights, 
the  faded  flowers,  the  deranged  furniture,  and  the  jaded 
looks  of  those  whose  faces  wreathed  in  smiles  for  six  mor- 
tal hours  seek  at  last  the  hard- bought  and  well-earned  in- 
dulgence of  a  hearty  yawn! 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

TUBBER-BEG. 

He  was,  the  world  said,  a  jovial  fellow, 

Who  ne'er  was  known  at  Fortune  to  repine ; 

Increasing  years  had  rendered  him  more  mellow, 

And  age  improved  him  —  as  it  did  his  wine. 

Sir  Gavin  Gwynne. 

The  Shannon,  after  expanding  into  that  noble  sheet  of 
water  called  Lough  Derg,  suddenly  turns  to  the  southward, 
and  enters  the  valley  of  Killaloe,  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
tracts  of  country  which  Ireland,  so  rich  in  river  scenery, 
can  boast.  The  transition  from  the  wide  lake,  with  its 
sombre  background  of  gray  mountain  and  rocky  islands, 
bleak  and  bare,  to  the  cultivated  aspect  of  this  favored 
spot,  is  like  that  experienced  in  passing  from  beneath  the 
gloom  of  lowering  thunder-clouds  into  light  and  joyous  sun- 
shine. Rich  waving  woods  of  every  tint  and  hue  of  foliage, 
with  here  and  there  some  spreading  lawns  of  deepest  green, 
clothe  the  mountains  on  either  side,  while  in  bright  eddies 
the  rapid  river  glides  in  between,  circling  and  winding  as 
in  playful  wantonness,  till  in  the  far  distance  it  is  seen 
passing  beneath  the  ancient  bridge  of  Killaloe,  whose  cathe- 
dral towers  stand  out  against  the  sky. 

On  first  emerging  from  the  lake,  the  river  takes  an 
abrupt  bend,  round  a  rocky  point,  and  then,  sweeping  back 
again  in  a  bold  curve,  forms  a  little  bay  of  deep  and  tran- 
quil water,  descending  towards  which  the  rich  meadows  are 
seen,  dotted  with  groups  of  ancient  forest  trees,  and  backed 
by  a  dense  skirting  of  timber.  At  one  spot,  where  the 
steep  declivity  of  the  ground  scarce  affords  footing  for  the 
tall  ash-trees,  stands  a  little  cottage,  at  the  extremity  of 
which  is  an  old  square  tower ;    this  is  Tubber-beg. 

VOL.  I. — 10 


146  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

As  you  sail  down  the  river  you  catch  but  one  fleeting 
glance  at  the  cottage,  and  when  you  look  again  it  is  gone ! 
The  projecting  headlands,  with  the  tall  trees,  have  hidden 
it,  and  you  almost  fancy  that  you  have  not  seen  it.  If  you 
enter  the  little  bay,  however,  and,  leaving  the  strong  cur- 
rent, run  into  the  deep  water  under  shore,  you  arrive  at  a 
spot  which  your  memory  will  retain  for  many  a  day  after. 

In  front  of  the  cottage,  and  descending  by  a  series  of 
terraces  to  which  art  has  but  little  contributed,  are  a  num- 
ber of  flower-plots,  whose  delicious  odors  float  over  the  still 
water,  while  in  every  gorgeous  hue  are  seen  the  camellia, 
the  oleander,  and  the  cactus,  with  the  tulip,  the  ranuncu- 
lus, and  the  carnation,  —  all  flourishing  in  a  luxuriance  which 
care  and  the  favored  aspect  of  this  sheltered  nook  com- 
bine to  effect.  Behind  and  around,  on  either  side,  the 
dark-leaved  holly,  the  laurustinus,  and  the  arbutus  are  seen 
in  all  the  profusion  of  leaf  and  blossom  a  mild,  moist  air 
secures,  and  forming  a  framework  in  which  stands  the  cot- 
tage itself,  its  deep  thatched  eave,  and  porch  of  rustic- 
work  trellised  and  festooned  with  creeping  plants,  almost 
blending  its  color  with  the  surrounding  foliage.  Through 
the  open  windows  a  peep  within  displays  the  handsomely 
disposed  rooms,  abounding  in  all  the  evidences  of  cultivated 
taste  and  refinement.  Books  in  several  of  the  modern  lan- 
guages are  scattered  on  the  table,  music,  drawings  of  the 
surrounding  scenery,  in  water-color  or  pencil,  —  all  that  can 
betoken  minds  carefully  trained  and  exercised,  and  by  their 
very  diversity  showing  in  what  a  world  of  self-stored  re- 
sources their  possessors  must  live ;  the  easel,  the  embroi- 
dery-frame, the  chess-board,  the  half-finished  manuscript, 
the  newly  copied  music,  the  very  sprig  of  fern  which  marks 
the  page  in  the  little  volume  on  botany,  —  slight  things  in 
themselves,  but  revealing  so  much  of  daily  life ! 

If  the  cottage  be  an  almost  ideal  representation  of  rustic 
elegance  and  simplicity,  its  situation  is  still  more  remarkable 
for  beauty ;  for  while  Art  has  developed  all  the  resources 
of  the  ground.  Nature,  in  her  own  boundless  profusion, 
has  assembled  here  almost  every  ingredient  of  the  pic- 
turesque, and  as  if  to  impart  a  sense  of  life  and  motion  to 
the  stilly  calm,   a  tumbling   sheet  of  water  gushes  down 


TUBBER-BEG.  147 

between  the  rocks,  and  in  bounding  leaps  descends  towards 
the  Shannon,  of  which  it  is  a  tributary. 

A  narrow  path,  defended  by  a  little  railing  of  rustic-work, 
separates  the  end  of  the  cottage  from  the  deep  gorge  of  the 
waterfall;  but  through  the  open  window  the  eye  can  peer 
down  into  the  boiling  abyss  of  spray  and  foam  beneath,  and 
catch  a  glimpse  of  the  bridge  which,  formed  of  a  fallen  ash- 
tree,  spans  the  torrent. 

Traversed  in  every  direction  by  paths,  some  galleried 
along  the  face,  others  cut  in  the  substance  of  the  rock,  you 
can  pass  hours  in  rambling  among  these  wild  and  leafy 
solitudes,  now  lost  in  shade,  now  emerging  again,  to  see  the 
great  river  gliding  along,  the  white  sails  dotting  its  calm 
surface. 

Well  did  Mr.  Kennyfeck  observe  to  Roland  Cashel  that 
it  was  the  most  beautiful  feature  of  his  whole  demesne, 
and  that  its  possession  by  another  not  only  cut  him  off 
from  the  Shannon  in  its  handsomest  part,  but  actually  de- 
prived the  place  of  all  pretension  to  extent  and  grandeur. 
The  spreading  woods  of  Tubbermore  were,  as  it  seemed, 
the  background  to  the  cottage  scene,  and  possessed  no 
character  to  show  that  they  were  the  property  of  the  greater 
proprietor. 

The  house  itself  was  not  likely  to  vindicate  the  claim  the 
locality  denied.  It  was  built  with  a  total  disregard  to  aspect 
or  architecture.  It  was  a  large  four-storied  edifice,  to 
which,  by  way  of  taking  off  from  the  unpicturesque  height, 
two  wings  had  been  planned  :  one  of  these  only  was  finished  ; 
the  other,  half  built,  had  been  suffered  to  fall  into  ruin. 
At  the  back,  a  high  brick  wall  enclosed  a  space  intended  for 
a  garden,  but  never  put  into  cultivation,  and  now  a  mere 
nursery  of  tall  docks  and  thistles,  whose  gigantic  size  almost 
overtopped  the  wall.  All  the  dirt  and  slovenliness  of  a 
cottier  habitant  —  for  the  house  was  occupied  by  what  is 
misnamed  "a  caretaker"  —  were  seen  on  every  hand.  One 
of  the  great  rooms  held  the  family ;  its  fellow,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  hall,  contained  a  cow  and  two  pigs ; 
cabbage-stalks  and  half-rotting  potato-tops  steamed  their 
pestilential  vapors  beneath  the  windows ;  while  half-naked 
children  added  the  discord,  the  only  thing  wanting  to  com- 


148  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

plete  the  sum   of   miserable,   squalid  discomfort,  so  sadly 
general  among  the  peasantry. 

If  one  needed  an  illustration  of  the  evils  of  absenteeism, 
a  better  could  not  be  found  than  in  the  ruinous,  damp, 
discolored  building,  with  its  falling  roof  and  broken  windows. 
The  wide  and  spreading  lawn,  thick  grown  with  thistles; 
the  trees  broken  or  barked  by  cattle ;  the  gates  that  hung 
by  a  single  hinge,  or  were  broken  up  piecemeal  for  firing,  — 
all  evidenced  the  sad  state  of  neglectful  indifference  by  which 
property  is  wrecked  and  a  country  ruined  !  Nor  was  the 
figure  then  seated  on  the  broken  doorstep  an  unfitting  ac- 
companiment to  such  a  scene,  —  a  man  somewhat  past  the 
middle  period  of  life,  whose  ragged,  tattered  dress  bespoke 
great  poverty,  his  worn  hat  drawn  down  over  his  eyes  so  as 
partly  to  conceal  a  countenance  by  no  means  prepossessing ; 
beside  him  lay  a  long  old-fashioned  musket,  the  stock 
mended  by  some  rude  country  hand.  This  was  Tom  Keane, 
the  "  caretaker,"  who,  in  all  the  indolent  enjoyment  of 
office,  sat  smoking  his  "  dudeen,"  and  calmly  surveying  the 
process  by  which  a  young  heifer  was  cropping  the  j'earling 
shoots  of  an  ash-tree. 

Twice  was  his  name  called  by  a  woman's  voice  from 
within  the  house  before  he  took  any  notice  of  it. 

'*Arrah,  Tom,  are  ye  asleep?"  said  she,  coming  to  the 
door,  and  showing  a  figure  whose  wretchedness  was  even 
greater  than  his  own ;  while  a  certain  delicacy  of  feature, 
an  expression  of  a  mild  and  pleasing  character,  still  lingered 
on  a  face  where  want  and  privation  had  set  many  a  mark. 
''Tom,  alanah!"  said  she,  in  a  tone  of  coaxing  softness, 
"sure  it's  time  to  go  down  to  the  post-office.  Ye  know 
how  anxious  the  ould  man  is  for  a  letter." 

"Ay,    and    he    has    rayson,    too,"    said    Tom,    without 
stirring. 

"  And  Miss  Mary  herself  was  up  here  yesterday  even- 
ing to  bid  you  go  early,  and,  if  there  was  a  letter,  to  bring 
it  in  all  haste." 

"  And  what  for  need  I  make  haste?  "  said  the  man,  sulk- 
ily. "  Is  it  any  matther  to  me  whether  he  gets  one  or  no? 
Will  /be  richer  or  poorer?  Poorer !  "  added  he,  with  a  sav- 
age laugh  ;   "  be  gorra  !  that  wud  be  hard,  anvhow.     That's 


TUBBER-BEG.  149 

a  comfort  old  Corrigan  hasn't.  If  they  turn  him  out  of 
the  place,  then  he  '11  know  what  it  is  to  be  poor !  " 

"Oh,  Tom,  acushla !  don't  say  tliat^  and  he  so  good  to 
us,  and  the  young  lady  that  was  so  kind  when  the  childer 
had  the  measles,  comin'  twice  —  no,  but  three  times  a  day, 
with  everything  she  could  think  of." 

"Wasn't  it  to  please  herself?  Who  axed  her?"  said 
Tom,  savagely. 

"Oh,  dear!  oh,  dear!"  sighed  the  woman.  "Them's 
the  hard  words,  — '  to  please  herself ' !  " 

"Ay,  just  so!  When  ye  know  them  people  as  well  as 
me,  you  '11  say  the  same.  That 's  what  they  like,  —  to  make 
themselves  great  among  the  poor ;  giving  a  trifle  here,  and 
a  penny  there ;  making  gruel  for  this  one,  and  tay  for  that ; 
marchin'  in  as  if  they  owned  the  house,  and  turning  up  their 
noses  at  everything  they  see.  '  Why  don't  you  sweep  be- 
fore the  door,  Nancy  ? '  —  '  Has  the  pig  any  right  to  be 
eating  there  out  of  the  kish  with  the  childer  ?  '  —  'Ye  ought 
to  send  that  child  to  school '  —  and,  '  What 's  yoxav  husband 
doing?'  —  That's  the  cry  with  them.  'What's  your  hus- 
band doing  ?  Is  he  getting  the  wheat  in,  or  is  he  at  the 
potatoes?'  Tear  and  ages!  "  cried  he,  with  a  wild  energy, 
"  what  does  any  one  of  themselves  do  from  morning  till 
night,  that  they  're  to  come  spy  in'  after  a  poor  man,  to  ax 
'  Is  he  workin'  like  a  naygur?  '  But  we  '11  teach  them  some- 
thing yet,  —  a  lesson  they  're  long  wanting.     Listen  to  this." 

He  took,  as  he  spoke,  a  soiled  and  ragged  newspaper 
from  his  pocket,  and  after  seeking  some  minutes  for  the 
place,  he  read,  in  a  broken  voice :  — 

"'The  days  to  come'  —  ay,  here  it  is  —  'The  days  to 
come.  —  Let  the  poor  man  remember  that  there  is  a  future 
before  him  that,  if  he  have  but  courage  and  boldness,  will 
pay  for  the  past.  Turn  about 's  fair  play,  my  lords  and 
gentlemen !  You  've  had  the  pack  in  your  own  hands  long 
enough,  and  dealt  yourselves  all  the  trumps.  Now,  give 
us  the  cards  for  a  while.  You  say  our  fingers  are  dirty ; 
so  they  are,  with  work  and  toil,  black  and  dirty !  but  not 
as  black  as  your  own  hearts.  Hurrah !  for  a  new  deal  on 
a  bran-new  table :  Ireland  the  stakes,  and  the  players  her 
own  stout  sons!'     Them's  fine  sintiments,"   said  he,  put- 


150  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

ting  up  the  paper.  ''Fine  sintiments !  and  the  sooner 
we  thry  them  the  better.  That's  the  real  song,-'  said  he, 
reciting  with  energy,  — 

"  *  Oh  !  the  days  to  come,  the  days  to  come, 
When  Erin  shall  have  her  own,  boys  ! 
When  we  '11  pay  the  debts  our  fathers  owed. 
And  reap  what  they  have  sown,  boys  ! '  " 

He  sprang  to  his  feet  as  he  concluded,  shouldering  his 
musket,  strode  out  as  if  in  a  marching  step,  and  repeating 
to  himself,  as  he  went,  the  last  line  of  the  song.  About 
half  an  hour's  brisk  walking  brought  him  to  a  low  wicket 
which  opened  on  the  high  road,  a  little  distance  from  which 
stood  the  small  village  of  Derraheeny,  the  post-town  of  the 
neighborhood.  The  little  crowd  which  usually  assembled 
at  the  passing  of  the  coach  had  already  dispersed,  when 
Tom  Keane  presented  himself  at  the  window,  and  asked, 
in  a  tone  of  voice  subdued  almost  to  softness,  — 

"  Have  you  anything  for  Mr.  Corrigan  this  morning, 
ma'am?" 

"Yes;  there  are  two  letters  and  a  newspaper,"  replied  a 
sharp  voice  from  within.     "  One-and-fourpence  to  pay." 

"  She  didn't  give  me  any  money,  ma'am,  but  Miss  Mary 
said  —  " 

"  You  can  take  them,"  interrupted  the  post-mistress, 
hastily  handing  them  out,  and  slamming  the  little  window 
to  at  the  same  instant. 

"There's  more  of  it!"  muttered  Tom;  "and  if  it  was 
for  me  the  letters  was,  I  might  sell  my  cow  before  I  'd  get 
trust  for  the  price  of  them !  "  And  with  this  reflection  he 
plodded  moodily  homeward.  Scarcely,  however,  had  he 
entered  the  thick  plantation  than  he  seated  himself  beneath 
a  tree,  and  proceeded  to  take  a  careful  and  strict  scrutiny  of 
the  two  letters;  carefully  spelling  over  each  address,  and 
poising  them  in  his  hands,  as  if  the  weight  could  assist  his 
guesses  as  to  the  contents.  "That's  Mr.  Keunyfeck's  big 
seal.  I  know  it  well,"  said  he,  gazing  on  the  pretentious 
coat-of-arms  which  emblazoned  the  attorney's  letter.  "  I 
can  make  nothing  of  the  other  at  all.  '  Cornelius  Corrigan, 
Esq.,  Tubber-beg,  Derraheeny,'  — sorra  more  !  "     It  was  in 


TUBBER-BEG.  151 

vain  that  he  held  it  open,  lozenge  fashion,  to  peep  within ; 
but  one  page  only  was  written,  and  he  could  not  see  that. 
Kennyfeck's  letter  was  enclosed  in  an  envelope,  so  that  here, 
too,  he  was  balked,  and  at  last  was  fain  to  slip  the  news- 
paper from  its  cover,  —  a  last  resource  to  learn  something 
underhand  !  The  newspaper  did  not  contain  anything  pecu- 
liarly interesting,  save  in  a  single  paragraph,  which  announced 
the  intention  of  Roland  Cashel,  Esq.,  of  Tubbermore  Castle, 
to  contest  the  county  at  the  approaching  general  election. 
"  We  are  informed,"  said  the  writer,  "  on  competent  author- 
ity, that  this  gentleman  intends  to  make  the  ancestral  seat 
his  chief  residence  in  future,  and  that  already  preparations 
are  making  to  render  this  princely  mansion  in  every  respect 
worthy  of  the  vast  fortune  of  its  proprietor." 

"Faith,  and  the  'princely  mansion'  requires  a  thing  or 
two  to  make  it  all  perfect,"  said  Tom,  with  a  sardonic  laugh ; 
while  in  a  lower  tone  he  muttered,  —  "  maybe,  for  all  the 
time  he  '11  stay  there,  it 's  not  worth  his  while  to  spend  the 
money  on  it."  Having  re-read  the  paragraph,  he  carefully 
replaced  the  paper  in  its  cover,  and  continued  his  way,  not, 
however,  towards  his  own  home,  but  entering  a  little  wood- 
land path  that  led  direct  towards  the  Shannon.  After  pass- 
ing a  short  distance,  he  came  to  a  little  low  edge  of  beech  and 
birch,  through  which  a  neat  rustic  gate  led  and  opened  upon 
a  closely  shaven  lawn.  The  neatly  gravelled  walk,  the 
flower-beds,  the  delicious  perfume  that  was  diffused  on  every 
side,  the  occasional  peeps  at  the  eddying  river,  and  the  cot- 
tage itself  seen  at  intervals  between  the  evergreens  that 
studded  the  lawn,  were  wide  contrasts  to  the  ruinous  desola- 
tion of  the  "  Great  House ;  "  and  as  if  unwilling  to  feel  their 
influence,  Tom  pulled  his  hat  deeper  over  his  brows,  and 
never  looked  at  either  side  as  he  advanced.  The  part  of  the 
cottage  towards  which  he  was  approaching  contained  a  long 
veranda,  supported  by  pillars  of  rustic-work,  within  which, 
opening  by  three  large  windows,  was  the  principal  drawing- 
room.  Here,  now,  at  a  small  writing-table,  sat  a  young  girl, 
whose  white  dress  admirably  set  off  the  graceful  outline  of 
her  figure,  seen  within  the  half-darkened  room  ;  her  features 
were  pale,  but  beautifully  regular,  and  the  masses  of  her  hair, 
black  as  night,  which  she  wore  twisted  on  the  back  of  the 


152 


noLANt)  cashij:l. 


head,  like  a  cameo,  gave  a  character  of  classic  elegance  and 
simplicity  to  the  whole. 

Without,  and  under  the  veranda,  an  old  man,  tall,  and 
slightly  bowed  in  the  shoulders,  walked  slowly  up  and  down. 
It  needed  not  the  careful  nicety  of  his  long  queue,  the  spot- 
less whiteness  of  his  cambric  shirt  and  vest,  nor  the  perfec- 
tion of  his  nicely  fitting  nankeen  pantaloons,  to  bespeak  him 


^-^^^1^^ 


a  gentleman  of  the  past  day.  There  was  a  certain  syave 
gentleness  in  his  bland  look,  an  air  of  easy  courtesy  in  his 
every  motion,  a  kind  of  well-bred  mannerism  in  the  very 
carriage  of  his  gold-headed  cane,  that  told  of  a  time  when 
the  graces  of  deportment  were  a  study,  and  when  our  modern 
careless  freedom  had  been  deemed  the  very  acme  of  rudeness. 
He  was  dictating,  as  was  his  wont  each  morning,  some  rem- 
iniscence of  his  early  life,  when  he  had  served  in  the  Body- 
Guard  of  Louis  XVI.,  and  where  he  had  borne  his  part  in  the 
stormy  scenes  of  that  eventful  era.  The  memory  of  that 
most   benevolent  monarch,  the  fascinations  of   that   queen 


TUBBER-BEG.  153 

whom  to  serve  was  to  idolize,  had  sufficed  to  soften  the  hard- 
ships of  a  life  which,  from  year  to  year,  pressed  more  heav- 
ily, and  were  at  last,  after  many  a  struggle,  impressing  their 
lines  upon  a  brow  where  age  alone  had  never  written  grief. 

On  the  morning  in  question,  instead  of  rapidly  pouring 
forth  his  recollections,  which  usually  came  in  groups,  press- 
ing one  upon  the  other,  he  hesitated  often,  sometimes  forget- 
ting "  where  he  was,"  in  his  narrative,  and  more  than  once 
ceasing  to  speak  altogether ;  he  walked  in  revery,  and  seem- 
ing deeply  preoccupied. 

His  granddaughter  had  noticed  this  change  ;  but  cautiously 
abstaining  from  anything  that  might  betray  her  conscious- 
ness, she  sat,  pen  in  hand,  waiting,  her  lustrous  eyes  watch- 
ing each  gesture  with  an  intensity  of  interest  that  amounted 
to  actual  suffering. 

"I  fear,  Mary,"  said  he,  with  an  effort  to  smile,  "we 
must  give  it  up  for  to-day.  The  present  is  too  strong  for 
the  past,  just  as  sorrow  is  always  an  overmatch  for  joy. 
Watching  for  the  post  has  routed  all  my  thoughts,  and  I 
can  think  of  nothing  but  what  tidings  may  reach  me  from 
Dublin." 

"  You  have  no  fears,  sir,"  said  she,  rising,  and  drawing 
her  arm  within  his,  "  that  your  application  could  be  rejected. 
You  ask  nothing  unusual  or  unreasonable,  —  a  brief  renewal 
of  a  lease  where  you  have  expended  a  fortune." 

"True,  true,  dear  child.  Let  us,  however,  not  look  on 
the  case  with  our  eyes  alone,  but  see  it  as  others  may. 
But  here  comes  Tom.  —  Well,  what  news,  Tom ;  are  there 
letters?" 

"Yes,  sir,  here's  two;  there's  one-and-fourpence  to  be 
paid." 

"  Let  me  see  them,''  cried  the  old  man,  impatiently,  as 
he  snatched  them,  and  hastily  re-entered  the  house. 

"Is  Cathleen  better  to-day?"  said  the  young  lady, 
addressing  the  peasant. 

"Yes,  miss,  glory  be  to  God,  she's  betther.  Thanks  to 
yourself  and  Him.  Oh,  then,  it's  of  yer  beautiful  face  she 
does  be  dramin'  every  night.  Says  she,  '  It 's  Miss  Mary, 
I  think,  is  singing  to  me,  when  I  hear  the  birds  in  mj/ 
Bleep.' " 


154  KOLAND  CASHEL. 

"  Poor  child,  give  her  this  little  book  for  me,  and  8a\ 
I  '11  come  up  and  see  her  this  evening,  if  I  can.  Mrs.  Moore 
will  send  her  the  broth ;  I  hope  she  '11  soon  be  able  to  eat 
something.     Good-bye,  Tom." 

A  deep-drawn  heavy  sigh  from  within  the  cottage  here 
made  her  abruptly  conclude  the  interview  and  hasten  in. 
The  door  of  her  grandfather's  little  dressing-room  was, 
however,  locked ;  and  after  a  noiseless  effort  to  turn  the 
handle,  she  withdrew  to  the  drawing-room  to  wait  in  deep 
anxiety  for  his  coming. 

The  old  man  sat  with  his  head  supported  on  both  hands, 
gazing  steadfastly  at  two  open  letters  which  lay  on  the 
table  before  him ;  had  they  contained  a  sentence  of  death, 
his  aspect  could  scarce  have  been  more  sad  and  sorrow- 
struck.     One  was  from  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  and  ran  thus  : 

Dear  Mr.  Corrigan,  —  I  have  had  a  brief  conversation  with 
Mr.  Roland  Cashel  on  the  subject  of  your  renewal,  and  I  am  grieved 
to  say  that  he  does  not  seem  disposed  to  accede  to  your  wishes. 
Entertaining,  as  he  does,  the  intention  to  make  Tubbermore  his  chief 
residence  in  Ireland,  his  desire  is,  I  believe,  to  connect  the  farm  in 
your  holding  with  the  demesne.  This  will  at  once  explain  that  it  is 
not  a  question  of  demanding  a  higher  rent  from  you,  but  simply  of 
carrying  Out  a  plan  for  the  enlargement  and  improvement  of  the 
grounds  pertaining  to  the  "  Hall." 

The  matter,  is,  however,  by  no  means  decided  upon  ;  nor  will  it 
be,  in  all  probability,  before  you  have  an  opportunity  of  meeting  Mr. 
Gashel  personally.  His  present  intention  is  to  visit  your  neighbor- 
hood next  week. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  truly  yours, 

M.  Kenntfecf. 
Cornelius  Corrigan,  Esq.,  Tubber-beg  Cottage. 

The  second  letter  was  as  follows  :  — 

"  Simpkins  and  Green  have  the  honor  to  forward  for  acceptance 
the  enclosed  bill  for  two  hundred  and  seventeen  pounds,  at  three 
months,  Mr.  Heneage  Leicester,  of  New  Orleans,  on  ^Ir.  Corrigan. 

"  They  are  authorized  also  to  state  that  Mr.  Leicester's  affairs  have 
suffered  considerably  from  the  consequence  of  the  commercial  dis- 
tress at  N.  O.,  and  his  personal  property  has  been  totally  lost  by  the 
earthquake  which  took  place  on  the  11th  and  12th  ultimo.  He  there- 
fore trusts  to  Mr.  C 's  efforts  to  contribute  to  his  aid  by  a  greater 


TUBBER-BEG.  155 

exertion  than  usual,  and  will  draw  upon  him  for  two  sums  of  one 
hundred,  at  dates  of  six  and  nine  months,  which  he  hopes  may  suit 
his  convenience,  and  be  duly  honored.  Mr.  Leicester  continues  to 
hope  that  he  may  be  able  to  visit  Europe  in  the  spring,  where  his 
great  anxiety  to  see  his  daughter  will  call  him." 

"  The  ruin  is  now  complete,"  said  the  old  man.  "  I  have 
struggled  for  years  with  poverty  and  privation  to  ward  off 
this  hour ;  but,  like  destiny,  it  Av^ill  not  be  averted !  De- 
spoiled of  fortune ;  turned  from  the  home  where  I  have 
lived  from  my  childhood ;  bereft  of  all !  I  could  bear  up 
still  if  she  were  left  to  me ;  but  now,  he  threatens  to  take 
Aer,  my  child,  my  hope,  my  life  !  And  the  world  will  stand 
by  him,  and  say,  '  He  is  her  father ! '  He,  that  broke  the 
mother's  heart,  — my  own  darling  girl!  —  and  now  comes  to 
rob  me  —  a  poor  helpless  old  man  —  of  all  my  companion- 
ship and  my  pride.  Alas,  alas  !  the  pride,  perhaps,  deserves 
the  chastisement.  Poor  Mary,  how  will  she  ever  learn  to 
look  on  him  with  a  daughter's  affection?  —  What  a  life  will 
hers  be  !  and  this  deception,  —  how  will  it,  how  can  it  ever 
be  explained?     I  have  always  said  that  he  was  dead." 

Such,  in  broken  half-sentences,  were  the  words  he  spoke, 
while  thick-coming  sobs  almost  choked  his  utterance. 

"  This  cannot  be  helped,"  said  he,  taking  up  the  pen  and 
writing  his  name  across  the  bill.  "  So  much  I  can  meet  by 
selling  our  little  furniture  here ;  we  shall  need  it  no  more, 
for  we  have  no  longer  a  home.     Where  to,  then?  " 

He  shook  bis  hands  in  mournful  despair,  and  walked 
towards  the  window.  Mary  was  standing  outside,  in  the 
little  flower-garden,  assisting  the  old  gardener  to  fasten 
some  stray  tendrils  of  a  japonica  between  two  trees. 

"We  must  try  and  shelter  this  window,  Ned,"  said  she, 
"  from  the  morning  sun.  It  comes  in  too  strongly  here 
in  papa's  library.  By  next  summer,  I  hope  to  see  a  thick 
trellis  of  leaves  across  the  whole  casement." 

"  By  next  summer,"  repeated  the  old  man,  from  within, 
with  a  trembling  voice ;   "  and  who  will  be  here  to  see  it?  " 

"  This  little  hedge,  too,  must  be  overgrown  with  that 
creeping  plant  we  got  from  America,  the  white  liana.  I 
want  the  beech  to  be  completely  hid  beneath  the  blossoms, 
and  they  come  out  in  May." 


156  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"  In  May !  "  said  the  poor  old  man,  with  an  accent  of  in- 
expressible sadness,  as  though  the  very  promise  of  spring 
had  unfolded  a  deep  vista  of  years  of  suffering.  *'  But  why 
care  for  the  home,  if  she,  who  made  its  sunshine,  is  taken 
from  mc?  What  matters  it  where  I  linger  on,  or  how,  the 
last  few  hours  of  a  life,  bereft  of  its  only  enjoyment,  —  she, 
that  in  my  old  age  renewed  all  the  memories  of  my  early 
and  my  happy  days." 

He  sat  down  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hands ;  and 
when  he  withdrew  them,  the  whole  character  and  expres- 
sion of  the  countenance  had  changed :  a  dull,  meaningless 
look  had  replaced  the  mild  and  cheerful  beam  of  his  soft 
blue  eyes;  the  cheeks  were  flattened,  and  the  mouth,  so 
ready  with  its  gentle  smile,  now  remained  partly  open,  and 
slightly  drawn  to  one  side.  He  made  an  effort  to  speak, 
but  a  thickened  guttural  utterance  rendered  the  words 
scarcely  intelligible.  He  approached  the  window  and  beck- 
oned with  his  hand.  The  next  instant,  pale  with  terror,  but 
still  composed  and  seeming  calm,  Mary  was  beside  him. 

"  You  are  not  well,  dear  papa,"  she  said,  with  a  great 
effort  to  appear  at  ease.  ''You  must  lie  down  —  here  will 
do  —  on  this  sofa;  I'll  close  the  curtain,  and  send  over  for 
Tiernay,  —  he  said  he  should  be  back  from  Limerick  this 
morning." 

A  gentle  pressure  of  her  hand  to  his  lips,  and  a  faint  smile, 
seemed  to  assent. 

She  opened  the  window,  and  whispered  a  few  words  to 
the  gardener;  and  then,  closing  it  noiselessly,  drew  the 
curtain,  and  sat  down  on  a  low  stool  beside  the  sofa  where 
he  lay. 

So  still  and  motionless  did  he  remain  that  she  thought  he 
slept,  — indeed,  the  long-drawn  breathing,  and  the  repose  of 
his  attitude,  betokened  sleep. 

Mary  did  not  venture  to  move,  but  sat,  one  hand  clasped 
in  his,  the  other  resting  on  his  forehead,  still  and  silent. 

The  darkened  room,  the  unbroken  silence,  the  figure  of 
him  in  whom  was  centred  her  every  thought  and  hope, 
lying  sick  before  her,  sank  with  a  dreary  weight  upon  her 
heart ;  and  in  the  gloom  of  her  sorrow  dark  foreboding  of 
future  evil  arose,  vague  terrors  of  trials,  new  and  hard  to 


TUBBER-BEG.  157 

bear!  That  strange  prescience,  which  never  is  wanting 
in  great  afflictions,  and  seems  itself  a  Heaven-sent  warning 
to  prepare  for  the  coming  blow,  revealed  a  time  of  sore 
trouble  and  calamity  before  her.  "Let  him  be  but  spared 
to  me,"  she  cried,  in  her  heart-uttered  prayer,  ''and  let 
me  be  so  fashioned  in  spirit  and  temper  that  I  may  minister 
to  him  through  every  hour,  —  cheering,  consoling,  and  en- 
couraging ;  giving  of  my  youth  its  gift  of  hopefulness  and 
trust,  and  borrowing  of  his  age  its  serenity  and  resignation. 
But  oh  that  I  may  not  be  left  solitary  and  alone,  unfriended 
and  unsupported  !  "  A  gush  of  tears,  the  first  she  shed,  here 
l)urst  forth,  and,  in  the  transport  of  her  grief,  brought  calm 
to  her  mind  once  more. 

A  low  tap  at  the  window,  and  a  voice  in  whisper  aroused 
her.  "It  is  the  doctor,  miss,  —  Dr.  Tiernay,"  said  the 
gardener. 

A  motion  to  admit  him  was  all  her  reply,  and  with  noise- 
less step  the  physician  entered  and  approached  the  sofa. 
He  felt  the  pulse,  and  listened  to  the  respiration  of  the  sick 
man ;  and  then,  withdrawing  the  curtain  so  as  to  let  the 
light  fall  upon  his  features,  steadily  contemplated  their  ex- 
pression. As  he  looked,  his  own  countenance  grew  graver 
and  sadder ;  and  it  was  with  an  air  of  deep  solemnity  that 
he  took  Mary's  hand  and  led  her  from  the  room. 

With  a  weight  like  lead  upon  her  heart  Mary  moved 
away.  "When  did  it  happen?"  whispered  he,  when  he 
had  closed  the  door  behind  them. 

'' Happen  I"  gasped  she,  in  agony;  "what  do  yow 
mean?" 

"I  meant  when  —  this  —  occurred,"  replied  he,  falter- 
ing;   "was  he  in  his  usual  health  this  morning?" 

"  Yes,  perfectly,  —  a  little  less  composed  ;  anxious  about 
his  letters;    uneasy  at  the  delay,  —  but  no  more." 

"  You  do  not  know  if  he  received  any  unpleasant  tidings, 
or  heard  anything  to  distress  liim  ? " 

"He  may  have  done  so,"  answered  she,  sadly,  "  for  he 
locked  his  door  and  read  over  his  letters  by  himself.  When 
I  saw  him  next,  he  was  standing  at  the  window,  and  beck- 
oning to  me." 

A  gentle  tap  at  the  door  here  interrupted  the  colloquy, 


158  ROLAND  CASIIEL. 

and  the  old  housekeeper  whispered,  "The  master,  miss, 
wants  to  spake  with  the  doctor;    he's  better  now." 

"Oh,  let  me  see  him,"  cried  Mary,  springing  towards 
the  door.  But  Dr.  Tiernay  interposed  gently,  and  said, 
"No,  this  might  prove  dangerous;  remain  here  till  I  have 
seen  and  spoken  with  him."  Mary  assented  by  a  gesture, 
and  sat  down  without  speaking. 

"  Sit  down,  Tiernay,"  said  the  sick  man,  as  the  doctor 
came  to  his  bedside,  —  "sit  down,  and  let  me  speak  while 
I  have  strength.  Everything  is  against  us,  Tiernay.  We 
are  not  to  get  the  renewal ;  this  young  Mr.  Cashel  wants 
the  cottage, — we  must  turn  out.  I'll  have  to  do  so,  even 
before  the  gale-day  ;  but  what  matter  about  me  !  It 's  that 
poor  child  I  'm  thinking  of  —  "  Here  he  stopped,  and  was 
some  minutes  before  he  could  resume.  "There,  —  read 
that;    that  will  tell  you  all." 

Tiernay  took  the  crumpled  letter,  which  the  old  man 
had  all  this  while  held  firmly  in  his  closed  grasp,  and  read 
it. 

"  Well,  that 's  bad  news,  is  n't  it?  "  said  Corrigan.  "  Not 
the  bill,  —  I  don't  mean  that ;  but  he  *s  coming  back ;  do 
you  see  the  threat?  —  he's  coming  back  again." 

"  How  can  he?"  said  the  doctor.  "  The  man  committed 
a  forgery.  How  will  he  dare  to  return  here  and  place  his 
neck  in  a  halter  ?  " 

"  You  forget  whose  evidence  alone  can  convict  him,  — 
mine ;  the  name  he  forged  was  mine,  the  sum  he  took  was 
mine,  —  nearly  all  I  had  in  the  world ;  but  he  has  nothing 
to  fear  from  me,  whatever  I  may  have  to  dread  from 
him." 

"How  can  he  have  any  terror  for  youf 

"  He  can  take  /ier  away,  — not  from  me,  for  she'll  soon  be 
separated  by  a  stronger  hand  than  his ;  but  I  can't  bear  to 
think  that  she  '11  be  in  his  power.  Tiernay,  this  is  what 
is  cutting  into  my  heart  now  as  I  lie  here,  and  leaves  me 
no  rest  to  think  of  the  brief  minutes  before  me.  Tell  me, 
is  there  no  way  to  avoid  this?  Think  of  something,  my 
old  friend,  —  take  this  weight  off  my  d3dng  heart,  and  my 
last  breath  will  bless  you." 

"Are  there  any  relations,  or  friends?" 


TUBBER-BEG.  159 

*'  None,  not  one ;  I  'm  the  last  of  the  tree,  —  the  one  old 
rotten  branch  left.  I  was  thinking  of  a  nunnery,  Tiernay, 
one  of  those  convents  in  France  or  the  Low  Countries ;  but 
even  there,  if  he  found  her  out,  he  could  legally  demand 
her  to  be  restored  to  him,  —  and  he  would  find  her,  ay, 
that  he  would !  There  never  was  a  thing  yet  that  man 
could  n't  do  when  he  set  his  heart  on  it ;  and  the  more  the 
obstacles,  the  greater  his  wish.  I  heard  him  say  it  with 
his  own  lips,  that  he  never  had  any  fancy  for  my  poor  Lucy 
till  he  overheard  her  one  day  saying  that  '  she  never  hated 
any  one  till  she  knew  him.'  From  that  hour,  he  swore  to 
himself  she  should  be  his  wife  !  Heaven  knows  if  the  hate 
was  not  better  bestowed  than  the  love ;  and  yet,  she  did 
love  him  to  the  last,  —  ay,  even,  after  cruelty  and  desertion, 
ay,  after  his  supposed  death;  when  she  heard  that  he 
married  another,  and  was  living  in  splendor  at  Cadiz,  ay, 
—  Tiernay!  after  all  that,  she  told  me  on  her  death-bed, 
she  loved  him  still !  " 

"I  think  the  nunnery  is  the  best  resource,"  said  the 
doctor,  recalling  the  sick  man  from  a  theme  where  his 
emotions  were  already  too  powerfully  excited. 

"I  believe  it  is,"  said  the  old  man,  with  more  of  energy 
than  before;  "and  I  feel  almost  as  if  Providence  would 
give  me  strength  and  health  to  take  her  there  myself,  and 
see  her  safe  before  I  die.  Feel  that  pulse  now:  isn't  it 
stronger  ?  " 

"You  are  better,  much  better  already,"  said  the  doctor; 
"and  now,  keep  quiet  and  composed.  Don't  speak  —  if  it 
was  possible,  I  'd  say,  don't  think  —  for  a  few  hours.  The 
worst  is  nigh  over." 

"I  thought  so,  Tiernay.  I  felt  it  was  what  old  Joe 
Henchy  used  to  call  'a  runaway  knock.'"  And,  with  a 
faint  smile,  the  old  man  pressed  his  hand,  and  said, 
"  Good-bye." 

Scarcely,  however,  had  the  doctor  reached  the  door,  when 
he  called  him  back. 

"Tiernay,"  said  he,  "it's  of  no  use  telling  me  to  lie  still, 
and  keep  quiet,  and  the  rest  of  it.  I  continue,  asleep  or 
awake,  to  think  over  what 's  coming.  There  is  but  one 
way  to  give  me  peace,  — give  me  some  hope.     I  '11  tell  you 


160  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

now  how  that  is  to  be  done ;  but,  first  of  all,  can  you  spare 
three  days  from  home?" 

"To  be  sure  I  can;  a  week,  if  it  would  serve  you. 
Where  am  I  to  go?  " 

"To  Dublin,  Tiernay.  You'll  have  to  go  up  there,  and 
see  this  young  man,  Cashel,  yourself,  and  speak  to  him  for 
me.  Tell  him  nothing  of  our  present  distress  or  poverty, 
but  just  let  him  see  who  it  is  that  he  is  turning  out  of  the 
lands  where  their  fathers  lived  for  hundreds  of  years.  Tell 
him  that  the  Corrigans  is  the  oldest  stock  in  the  whole 
country ;  that  the  time  was,  from  the  old  square  tower  on 
Garraguin,  you  could  n't  see  a  spot  of  ground  that  was  n't 
our  own!  Tell  him,"  —  and,  as  bespoke,  his  flashing  eye 
and  heightened  color  showed  how  the  theme  agitated  and 
excited  him,  —  "  tell  him  that  if  he  turns  us  from  hearth 
and  home,  it  is  not  as  if  it  was  like  some  poor  cotter  —  " 
He  paused,  his  lips  trembled,  and  the  big  tears  burst  from 
his  eyes  and  rolled  heavily  down  his  face.  "Oh!  God  for- 
give me  for  saying  the  words !  "  cried  he,  in  an  accent  of 
deep  agony.  "Why  would  n't  the  humblest  peasant  that 
ever  crouched  to  his  meal  of  potatoes,  beside  the  little 
turf  fire  of  his  cabin,  love  his  home  as  well  as  the  best 
blood  in  the  land?  No,  no.  Mat,  it 's  little  kindness  we  'd 
deserve  on  such  a  plea  as  that." 

"There,  there,  don't  agitate  yourself.  I  know  what  you 
mean,  and  what  you'd  like  me  to  say." 

"You  do  not,"  rejoined  the  old  man,  querulously,  "for  I 
have  n't  said  it  yet.  Nor  I  can't  think  of  it  now.  Ah, 
Mat,"  here  his  voice  softened  once  more  into  its  habitual 
key,  "that  was  a  cruel  thought  of  me  a  while  ago;  and 
faith,  Mr.  Cashel  might  well  suspect,  if  he  heard  it,  that  I 
was  n't  one  of  the  old  good  blood  of  the  Corrigans,  that 
could  talk  that  way  of  the  poor;  but  so  it  is.  There  is  n't 
a  bad  trait  in  a  man's  heart  that  is  not  the  twin-brother  of 
his  selfishness.  And  now  I'll  say  no  more;  do  the  best 
you  can  for  us,  that 's  all.  I  was  going  to  bid  you  tell  him 
that  we  have  an  old  claim  on  the  whole  estate  that  some  of 
the  lawyers  say  is  good,  —  that  the  Crown  have  taken  off 
the  confiscation  in  the  time  of  my  great  father,  Phil  Corri- 
gan;  but  sure  he  would  n't  mind  that,  — besides,  that 's  not 
the  way  to  ask  a  favor." 


TUBBEK-BEa.  161 

"You  must  n't  go  on  talking  this  way;  see  how  hot  your 
hand  is !  " 

"Well,  maybe  it  will  be  cold  enough  soon!  There  is 
another  thing,  Mat.  You  must  call  on  Murphy,  with  the 
bill  of  sale  of  the  furniture  and  the  books,  and  get  money 
to  meet  these  bills.  There  they  are;  I  indorsed  them  this 
morning.  Tell  Green  it 's  no  use  sending  me  the  other 
bills;  I  '11  not  have  means  to  take  them  up,  and  it  would  be 
only  disgracing  my  name  for  nothing  to  write  it  on  them. 
I  '11  be  longing  to  see  you  back  again.  Mat,  and  hear  your 
tidings;  so  God  bless  you,  and  send  you  safe  home  to  us." 

"I  '11  set  off  to-night,"  said  the  doctor,  rising,  and  shak- 
ing his  hand.  "Your  attack  is  passed  over,  and  there  's  no 
more  danger,  if  you  '11  keep  quiet." 

"There  's  another  thing,  Mat,"  said  the  sick  man,  smiling 
faintly,  and  with  a  strange  meaning.  "Call  at  28  Drogheda 
Street,  and  ask  the  people  to  show  you  the  room  Con  Corri- 
gan  fought  the  duel  in  with  Colonel  Battley.  It  was  only 
twelve  feet  long  and  ten  wide,  a  little  place  off  the  drawing- 
room,  and  the  colonel  would  n't  even  consent  that  we  should 
stand  in  the  corners.  Look  and  see  if  the  bullet  is  in  the 
wall  still.  The  old  marquis  used  to  have  it  fresh  painted 
red  every  year,  on  the  anniversary  of  the  day.  Oh,  dear, 
oh,  dear,  but  they  were  the  strange  times,  then!  ay,  and 
pleasant  times  too."  And  with  such  reflections  on  the  past, 
he  fell  off  into  a  dreamy  half-consciousness,  during  which 
Tiernay  stole  from  the  room  and  left  him  alone. 

Faint  and  trembling  with  agitation,  Mary  Leicester  was 
standing  all  this  while  at  the  door  of  the  sick  chamber. 
"Did  I  hear  aright.  Doctor?"  said  she;  "was  that  his 
voice  that  sounded  so  cheerfully  ?  " 

"Yes,  my  dear  Miss  Mary,  the  peril  is  by;  but  be 
cautious.  Let  him  not  speak  so  much,  even  with  you. 
This  is  a  sweet  quiet  spot,  —  Heaven  grant  he  may  long 
enjoy  it!  " 

Mary's  lips  muttered  some  words  inaudibly,  and  they 
parted.  She  sat  down  alone,  in  the  little  porch  under  the 
eave.  The  day  was  a  delicious  one  in  autumn,  calm, 
mellow,  and  peaceful ;  a  breeze,  too  faint  to  ripple  the 
river,  stirred  the  flowers  and  shook  forth  their  odor.  The 
VOL.  I.— U 


162  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

cottage,  the  leafy  shade,  through  which  the  tempered  sun> 
light  fell  in  fanciful  shapes  upon  the  gravel,  the  many 
colored  blossoms  of  the  rich  garden,  the  clear  and  tranquil 
river,  the  hum  of  the  distant  waterfall,  —  they  were  all  such 
sights  and  sounds  as  breathe  of  home  and  home's  happi- 
ness ;  and  so  had  she  felt  them  to  be  till  an  unknown  fear 
found  entrance  into  her  heart  and  spread  its  darkness  there. 
What  a  terrible  sensation  comes  with  a  first  sorrow! 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

MR.    LINTON    REVEALS    HIS    DESIGNS. 

With  fame  and  fortune  on  the  cast. 

He  never  rose  a  winner, 
And  learned  to  know  himself,  at  last, 

"A  miserable  sinner." 

Bell. 

It  was  about  ten  days  or  a  fortnight  after  the  great  Kenny^ 
feck  dinner,  when  all  the  gossip  about  its  pretension,  dul- 
ness,  and  bad  taste  had  died  away,  and  the  worthy  guests 
so  bored  by  the  festivity  began  to  wonder  *'when  they 
would  give  another,"  that  a  gentleman  sat  at  breakfast  in 
one  of  those  large,  dingy-looking,  low-ceilinged  apartments 
which  are  the  choice  abodes  of  the  viceregal  staff  in  the 
Castle  of  Dublin.  The  tawdry  and  time-discolored  gild- 
ings, the  worn  and  faded  silk  hangings,  the  portraits  of 
bygone  state  councillors  and  commanders-in-chief,  griev- 
ously riddled  by  rapier-points  and  pistol-shots,  were  not 
without  an  emblematic  meaning  of  the  past  glories  of  that 
seat  of  Government,  now  so  sadly  fallen  from  its  once  high 
and  palmy  state. 

Although  still  a  young  man,  the  present  occupant  of  the 
chamber  appeared  middle-aged,  so  much  had  dissipation 
and  excess  done  the  work  of  time  on  his  constitution.  A 
jaded,  wearied  look,  a  sleepy,  indolent  expression  of  the 
eye,  certain  hard  lines  about  the  angles  of  the  mouth, 
betokened  one  who  played  a  high  game  with  life,  and  rarely 
arose  a  winner.  Although  his  whole  appearance  bespoke 
birth  and  blood  rather  than  intellect  or  ability,  there  was 
enough  in  his  high  and  squarely  shaped  head,  his  deep  dark 
eye,  and  his  firm,  sharply  cut  mouth,  to  augur  that  in- 
capacity could  not  be  reckoned  among  the  causes  of  any 
failures    he   incurred   in    his   career.      lie   was,    in   every 


164  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

respect,  the  beau  ideal  of  that  strange  solecism  in  our 
social  code,  "the  younger  son."  His  brother,  the  Duke 
of  Derwent,  had  eighty  thousand  a  year.  He  had  exactly 
three  hundred.  His  Grace  owned  three  houses,  which  might 
well  be  called  palaces,  besides  a  grouse  lodge  in  the  High- 
lands, a  yachting  station  at  Cowes,  and  a  villa  at  Hytres 
in  France.  My  Lord  was  but  too  happy  to  be  the  possessor 
of  the  three  cobwebbed  chambers  of  a  viceregal  aide-de- 
camp, and  enjoy  the  pay  of  his  troop  without  joining  his 
regiment. 

Yet  these  two  men  were  reared  exactly  alike !  As  much 
habituated  to  every  requirement  and  luxury  of  wealth  as 
his  elder  brother,  the  younger  suddenly  discovered  that, 
once  beyond  the  shadow  of  his  father's  house,  all  his 
worldly  resources  were  something  more  than  what  the  cook, 
and  something  less  than  the  valet,  received.  He  had  been 
taught  one  valuable  lesson,  however,  which  was,  that  as  the 
State  loves  a  rich  aristocracy,  it  burdens  itself  with  the 
maintenance  of  all  those  who  might  prove  a  drain  on  its 
resources,  and  that  it  is  ever  careful  to  provide  for  the  Lord 
Georges  and  Lord  Charleses  of  its  noble  houses.  To  this 
provision  he  believed  he  had  a  legal  claim,  —  at  all  events, 
he  knew  it  to  be  a  right  uncontested  by  those  less  highly 
born. 

The  system  which  excludes  men  from  the  career  of  com- 
merce, in  compensation  opens  the  billiard-room,  the  whist- 
table,  and  the  betting-ring ;  and  many  a  high  capacity  has 
been  exercised  in  such  spheres  as  these,  whose  resources 
might  have  won  honor  and  distinction  in  very  different 
fields  of  enterprise.  Whether  Lord  Charles  Frobisher  knew 
this,  and  felt  that  there  was  better  in  him,  or  whether  his 
successes  were  below  his  hopes,  certain  is  it,  he  was  a 
depressed,  dejected  man,  who  lounged  through  life  in  a 
languid  indolence,  caring  for  nothing,  not  even  himself. 

There  was  some  story  of  an  unfortunate  attachment, 
some  love  affair  with  a  very  beautiful  but  portionless 
cousin,  who  married  a  marquis,  to  which  many  ascribed 
the  prevailing  melancholy  of  his  character;  but  they  who 
remembered  him  as  a  schoolboy  said  he  was  always  shy 
and  reserved,  and  saw  nothing  strange  in  his  bearing  as  a 


MR.  LINTON  REVEALS   HIS   DESIGNS.  165 

man.  The  breakfast-table,  covered  with  all  that  could 
stimulate  appetite,  and  yet  withal  untasted,  was  not  a 
bad  emblem  of  one  who,  with  many  a  gift  to  win  an  upward 
way,  yet  lived  on  in  all  the  tawdry  insignificance  of  a  court 
aide-de-camp.  A  very  weak  glass  of  claret  and  water, 
with  a  piece  of  dry  toast,  formed  his  meal ;  and  even  these 
stood  on  the  corner  of  a  writing-table,  at  which  he  sat, 
rising  sometimes  to  look  out  of  the  window,  or  pace  the 
room  with  slow,  uncertain  steps.  Before  him  lay  an  un- 
finished letter,  which,  to  judge  from  the  slow  progress  it 
made,  and  the  frequent  interruptions  to  its  course,  seemed 
to  occasion  some  difficulty  in  the  composition ;  and  yet  the 
same  epistle  began  "My  dear  Sydney,"  and  was  addressed 
to  his  brother.     Here  it  is ;  — 

My  dear  Sydney,  —  I  suppose,  from  not  hearing  from  you 
some  weeks  back,  that  my  last,  which  I  addressed  to  the  Clarendon, 
has  never  reached  you,  nor  is  it  of  any  consequence.  It  would  be 
too  late  now  to  ask  you  about  Scott's  horses.  Cobham  told  us  how 
you  stood  yourself,  and  that  was  enough  to  guide  the  poor  devils  here 
with  their  ponies  and  fifties.  We  all  got  a  squeeze  on  the  "mare." 
I  hear  you  won  seven  thousand  besides  the  stakes.  I  hope  the 
report  may  be  true.  Is  Raucus  in  training  for  the  Spring  Meeting, 
or  not?  If  so,  let  me  have  some  trifle  on  him  in  your  own 
book. 

I  perceive  you  voted  on  Brougham's  amendment  against  our 
people ;  I  conclude  you  were  right,  but  it  will  make  them  very  stub- 
born with  me  about  the  exchange.      N has  already  remarked 

upon  what  he  calls  the  "  intolerable  independence  of  some  noble 
lords."  I  wish  I  knew  the  clow  to  your  proceeding:  are  you  at  lib- 
erty to  give  it  ?  I  did  not  answer  the  question  in  your  last  letter.  — 
Of  course  I  am  tired  of  Ireland;  but  as  the  alternatives  are  a  "com- 
pound in  Calcutta,  or  the  Government  House,  Quebec,"  I  may  as  well 
remain  where  I  am.  I  don't  know  that  a  staff-officer,  like  Madeira, 
improves  by  a  sea-voyage. 

You  say  nothing  of  Georgina,  so  that  I  hope  her  chest  is  better, 
and  that  Nice  may  not  be  necessary.  I  believe,  if  cHmate  were 
needed,  you  would  find  Lisbon,  or  rather  Cintra,  better  than  any  part 
of  Italy,  and  possessed  of  one  great  advantage,  — few  of  our  rambling 

countrymen.      N commended  your  haunch  so  highly,  and  took 

such  pains  to  record  his  praises,  that  I  suspect  he  looks  for  a  repeti- 
tion of  the  favor.  If  you  are  shooting  bucks,  perhaps  you  would 
send  him  a  quarter. 


166  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Two  sentences,  half  finished  and  erased,  here  showed 
that  the  writer  experienced  a  difficulty  in  continuing.  In- 
deed, his  flurried  manner  as  he  resumed  the  letter  proved  it. 
At  last  he  went  on :  — 

I  hate  asking  favors,  my  dear  Sydney,  but  there  is  one  which,  if 
not  positively  repugnant  to  you  to  grant,  will  much  oblige  me. 
There  is  a  young  millionnaire  here,  a  Mr.  Cashel,  wishes  to  be  a  mem- 
ber of  your  Yacht  Club;  and  as  I  have  given  a  promise  to  make 
interest  in  his  behalf  with  you,  it  would  be  conferring  a  gi-eat  obliga- 
tion on  me  were  I  to  make  the  request  successfully.  So  far  as  I  can 
learn,  there  is  no  reason  against  his  admission,  and,  as  regards  prop- 
erty, many  reasons  in  his  favor.  If  you  can  do  this  for  me,  then,  you 
will  render  me  a  considerable  service. 

Of  course  I  do  not  intend  to  fix  any  acquaintanceship  upon  you, 
nor  in  any  other  way,  save  the  bean  in  the  ballot-box,  and  a  civil 
word  in  proposing,  inflict  you  with  what  Rigby  calls  "  Protective 
Duties."  I  should  have  been  spared  in  giving  you  this  trouble  but 
for  Tom  Linton,  who,  with  his  accustomed  good  nature  at  other 
men's  cost,  suggested  the  step  to  Cashel,  and  told  him,  besides,  that 
my  brother  was  vice-admiral  of  the  yacht  fleet. 

If  Emily  wants  a  match  for  the  chestnut  pony,  I  know  of  one 
here  perfect  in  every  respect,  and  to  be  had  very  cheap.  Let  me 
know  about  this  soon,  and  also  the  club  matter,  as  I  have  promised 
to  visit  Cashel  at  his  country-house ;  and  in  case  of  refusal  on  your 
part,  this  would  be  unpleasant.  Thanks  for  your  invitation  for 
Christmas,  which  I  cannot  accept  of.     Hope  and  Eversham  are  both 

on  leave,  so  that  I  must  remain  here.     N continues  to  ask  you 

here;  but  my  advice  is,  as  it  has  ever  been,  not  to  come.  The 
climate  detestable,  —  the  houses  dull  and  dirty ;  no  shooting,  nor  any 
hunting,  —  at  least  with  such  horses  as  you  are  accustomed  to  ride. 

I  am  glad  you  took  my  counsel  about  the  mortgage.  There  is  no 
property  here  worth  seventeen  years'  purchase,  in  the  present  aspect 
of  politics.  Love  to  Jane  and  the  girls,  and  believe  me  ever 
yours, 

Charles  Frobisher. 

The  task  completed,  he  turned  to  the  morning  papers, 
which,  with  a  mass  of  tradesmen's  bills,  notes,  and  cards 
of  invitation,  littered  the  table.  He  had  not  read  long, 
when  a  deep-drawn  yawn  from  the  further  end  of  the  room 
aroused  him,  and  Frobisher  arose  and  walked  towards  a 
sofa,  on  which  was  stretched  a  man  somewhat  about  the 
middle  of  life,  but  whose  bright  eye  and  fresh  complexion 

\ 


MR.  LINTON  REVEALS  HIS  DESIGNS.  167 

showed  little  touch  of  time.  His  dress,  slightly  disordered, 
was  a  dinner  costume,  and  rather  inclined  towards  over- 
particularity  ;  at  least,  the  jewelled  buttons  of  his  vest  and 
shirt  evinced  a  taste  for  display  that  seemed  not  ill  to  con- 
sort with  the  easy  effrontery  of  his  look. 

Taking  his  watch  from  his  pocket,  he  held  it  to  his  ear, 
saying,  *'There  is  an  accomplishment,  Charley,  I  've  never 
been  able  to  acquire,  —  to  wind  my  watch  at  supper-time. 
What  hour  is  it?" 

"Two,"  said  the  other,  laconically. 

"By  Jove!  how  I  must  have  slept.  Have  you  been  to 
bed?" 

"Of  course.  But,  I  'd  swear,  with  less  success  than  you 
have  had  on  that  old  sofa.  I  scarcely  closed  my  eyes  for 
ten  minutes  together." 

"That  downy  sleep  only  comes  of  a  good  conscience  and 
a  heart  at  ease  with  itself,"  said  the  other.  "You  young 
gentlemen,  who  lead  bad  lives,  know  very  little  about  the 
balmy  repose  of  the  tranquil  mind." 

"Have  you  forgotten  that  you  were  to  ride  out  with  Lady 
Cecilia  this  morning?"  said  Frobisher,  abruptly. 

"Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  even  dreamed  we  were  cantering 
together  along  the  sands,  where  I  was  amusing  her  ladyship 
with  some*  choice  morceaux  of  scandal  from  that  set  in 
society  she  professes  to  hold  in  such  horror  that  she  will 
not  receive  them  at  court,  but  for  whose  daily  sa3^ings  and 
doings  she  has  the  keenest  zest." 

"Foster  is  gone  with  her,"  rejoined  Lord  Charles,  "and 
I  suspect  she  is  just  as  well  pleased.  Before  this  he  has 
told  her  everything  about  our  late  sitting,  and  the  play,  and 
the  rest  of  it!  " 

"Of  course  he  has;  and  she  is  dying  to  ask  Mr.  Softly, 
the  young  chaplain's  advice,  whether  rooting  us  all  out 
would  not  be  a  'good  work.'  " 

"Since  when  have  you  become  so  squeamish  about  card- 
playing,  Mr.   Linton  ?  " 

"I?  Not  in  the  least!  I  'm  only  afraid  that  some  of  my 
friends  may  turn  to  be  so  when  tlioy  hear  of  my  successes. 
You  know  what  happened  to  Wycherley  when  he  got  that 
knack  of   always   turning  up  a  king?      Some   one  asked 


168  UOLAND  CASHEL. 

Ruxton  what  was  to  be  done  about  it.  *Is  it  certain?  '  said 
he.  'Perfectly  certain;  we  have  seen  him  do  it  a  hundred 
times!'  'Then  back  him,'  said  old  Ruxton;  'that's  my 
advice  to  you.'  "  As  he  said  this  he  drew  a  chair  towards 
the  table  and  proceeded  to  fill  out  a  cup  of  chocolate. 
"Where  do  you  get  these  anchovies,  Charley?  Burke  has 
got  some,  but  not  half  the  size." 

"They  are  ordered  for  the  household.  Lawson  can  tell 
you  all  about  'em,"  said  the  other,  carelessly.  "But,  I 
sa}'',  what  bets  did  you  book  on  Laplander?" 

"Took  him  against  the  field  for  seven  hundred  even." 

"A  bad  bet,  then,  —  I  call  it  a  very  bad  bet." 

"So  should  I,  if  I  did  n't  know  Erebus  is  dead  lame." 

"I've  seen  a  horse  run  to  win  with  a  contracted  heel 
before  now,"  said  Lord  Charles,  with  a  most  knowing  look. 

"So  have  I;  but  not  on  stony  ground.  No,  no,  you  may 
depend  upon  it." 

"I  don't  want  to  depend  upon  it,"  said  the  other,  snap- 
pishly. "I  shall  not  venture  five  pounds  on  the  race.  I 
remember  once  something  of  an  implicit  reliance  on  a  piece 
of  information  of  the  kind." 

"Well!  you  know  how  that  happened.  I  gave  Hil^^ard's 
valet  fifty  pounds  to  get  a  peep  at  his  master's  betting- 
book,  and  the  fellow  told  Hilyard,  who  immediately  made 
up  a  book  express,  and  let  us  all  in  for  a  smart  sum.  I 
am  sure  I  was  the  heaviest  loser  in  the  affair." 

"So  you  ought,  too.  The  contrivance  was  a  very  ras- 
cally one,  and  deserved  its  penalty." 

"The  expression  is  not  parliamentary,  my  Lord,"  said 
Linton,  with  a  slight  flushing  of  the  cheek,  "and  so  I  must 
call  you  to  order." 

"Is  Turcoman  to  run?"  asked  Lord  Charles,  negligentl}'. 

"No.  I  have  persuaded  Cashel  to  buy  him,  and  he  has 
taken  him  out  of  training." 

"Well,  you  really  go  very  straightforward  in  your  work, 
Linton.  I  must  say  you  are  as  plucky  a  rogue  as  I  've  ever 
heard  of.  Pray,  now,  how  do  you  manage  to  keep  up  your 
influence  over  that  youth?  He  always  appears  to  me  to  be 
a  rash-headed,  wilful  kind  of  fellow  there  would  be  no 
guiding." 


MR.  LINTON  REVEALS  HIS  DESIGNS.  169 

"Simply,  by  always  keeping  him  in  occupation.  There 
are  people  like  spavined  horses,  and  one  must  always  get 
them  warm  in  their  work,  and  they  never  show  the  blemish. 
Now,  I  have  been  eternally  alongside  of  Cashel.  One  day 
buying  horses,  — ■  another,  pictures ,  —  another  time  it  was 
furniture,  carriages,  saddlery,  —  till  we  have  filled  that 
great  old  house  of  the  ex-Chancellor's  with  an  assemblage 
of  objects,  living  and  inanimate,  it  would  take  a  month 
to  chronicle." 

"Some  kind  friend  may  open  his  eye  to  all  this  one  of 
these  days.   Master  Linton;  and  then  —  '* 

"By  that  time,"  said  Linton,  "his  clairvoyance  will  be 
too  late.  Like  many  a  man  I  've  known,  he  '11  be  a  capital 
judge  of  claret  when  his  cellar  has  been  emptied." 

"You  were  a  large  winner  last  night,  Linton?" 

"Twelve  hundred  and  fifty.  It  might  have  been  double 
the  amount,  but  I  've  taken  a  hint  from  Splasher's  Physi- 
ology. He  says  nothing  encourages  a  plethora  like  small 
bleedings.     And  you,  Charley;  what  did  you  do?" 

"Sixty  pounds!  "  replied  he,  shortly.  "I  never  venture 
out  of  my  depth." 

"And  you  mean  to  infer  that  /  do,  my  Lord,"  said 
Linton,  trying  to  smile,  while  evidently  piqued  by  the 
remark.  "Well,  I  plead  guilty  to  the  charge.  I  have  a 
notion  in  my  head  that  seven  feet  of  water  drowns  a  man 
just  as  effectually  as  seven  hundred  fathoms  in  the  blue 
Atlantic.  Now  you  know,  as  well  as  /,  that  neither  of  us 
could  afford  to  lose  sixty  pounds  thrice  running ;  so  let  us 
not  talk  of  venturing  out  of  our  depth,  which,  I  take  it, 
would  be  to  paddle  in  very  shallow  water  indeed." 

For  an  instant  it  seemed  as  if  Lord  Charles  would  have 
given  an  angry  reply  to  this  sally;  but,  as  hastily  checking 
the  emotion,  he  walked  to  the  window,  and  appeared  to  be 
lost  in  thought,  while  Linton  continued  his  breakfast  with 
all  the  zest  of  a  hungry  man. 

"I  '11  give  up  play  altogether,"  said  Frobisher.  "That 
I  've  resolved  upon.  This  will  go  abroad,  rely  upon  it. 
Some  of  the  papers  will  get  hold  of  it,  and  we  shall  see 
some  startling  paragraphs  about  'Recent  Discoveries  in  the 
Vice-regal  Household,'  —  'Nefarious  System  of  High  Play 


170  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

at  the  Castle,'  and  so  on.  Now  it 's  all  very  well  for  you, 
who  neither  care  who  's  in  or  out,  or  hold  any  appointment 
here ;  but  remember,  there  are  others  —  myself  for  instance 
—  who  have  no  fancy  for  this  kind  of  publicity." 

"In  the  first  place,"  interrupted  Linton,  "there  is  no 
danger;  and  in  the  second,  if  there  were,  it's  right  well 
remunerated.  Your  appointment  here,  with  all  its  contin- 
gent advantages,  of  which,  not  to  excite  your  blushes,  we 
shall  say  nothing,  is  some  three  or  four  hundred  a  year. 
Now,  a  lucky  evening  and  courage  to  back  the  luck  —  a 
quality,  by  the  way,  I  never  yet  found  in  one  Englishman 
in  a  hundred  —  is  worth  this  twice  or  thrice  told.  Besides, 
remember,  that  this  wild  bull  of  the  prairies  has  come  of 
himself  into  our  hunting-grounds.  If  we  don't  harpoon 
him,  somebody  else  will.  A  beast  of  such  fat  on  the 
haunches  is  not  going  to  escape  scot  free;  and  lastly,  by 
falling  into  good  hands,  he  shall  have  the  advantage  of 
being  cut  up  artistically,  and  not  mauled  and  mangled  by 
the  rude  fingers  of  the  ignorant.  Faith,  as  for  myself,  I 
think  I  richly  merit  all  the  spoils  I  shall  obtain!  " 

"As  how,  pray?"  asked  Lord  Charles,  languidly. 

"In  the  first  place,  to  speak  of  the  present,  I  have  ridden 
out  with  him,  sat  beside  him  on  the  box  of  his  drag;  he  is 
seen  with  me  in  public,  and  has  been  heard  to  call  me 
'Linton'  on  the  ride  at  Dycer's.  My  tradespeople  have 
become  his  tradespeople.  The  tailor  who  reserved  his  mas- 
ter stroke  of  genius  for  me  now  shares  his  favors  with  him. 
In  fact,  Charley,  we  are  one.  Secondly,  as  regards  the 
future,  see  from  what  perils  I  shall  rescue  him.  He  shall 
not  marry  Livy  Kennyfeck;  he  shall  not  go  into  Parlia- 
ment for  the  Liberal  interest,  nor  for  any  interest,  if  I  can 
help  it;  he  shall  not  muddle  away  a  fine  fortune  in  fattening 
Durham  bulls  and  Berkshire  boars ;  neither  shall  he  excel 
in  rearing  mangel-wurzel  or  beet- root.  I  '11  teach  him  to 
have  a  soul  above  subsoiling,  and  a  spirit  above  green 
crops.  He  shall  not  fall  into  the  hands  of  Downie  Meek, 
and  barter  his  birthright  for  a  Whig  baronetcy;  neither 
shall  he  be  the  victim  of  right  honorable  artifices,  and  marry 
a  Lady  Juliana  or  Cecilia.  In  fine,  I  '11  secure  him  from 
public  meetings  and  agricultural  societies,  twaddling  din- 


MR.   LINTON  REVEALS   HIS  DESIGNS.  171 

ners,  horticultural  breakfasts,  the  Irish  Academy,  and  Mrs. 
White." 

"These  are  great  deservings  indeed,"  said  Lord  Charles, 
affectedly. 

"So  they  are,"  said  the  other;  "nor  do  I  believe  there  is 
another  man  about  town  could  pilot  the  channel  but  myself. 
It  is  only  reasonable,  then,  if  I  save  the  craft,  that  I  should 
claim  the  salvage.  Now,  the  next  point  is,  will  you  be  one 
of  the  crew?  I  '11  take  you  with  pleasure,  but  there  's  no 
impressment.  All  I  ask  is  secrecy,  whether  you  say  yea  or 
nay." 

"Let  me  hear  what  the  service  is  to  be  like." 

"Well,  we  shall  first  of  all  cruise;  confound  metaphors, 

—  let  us  talk  plainly.  Cashel  has  given  me  a  carte 
hlanche  to  fill  his  house  with  guests  and  good  things. 
The  company  and  the  cuisine  are  both  to  be  among  my 
attributions,  and  I  intend  that  we  should  do  the  thing  right 
royally.  Selection  and  exclusiveness  are,  of  course,  out  of 
the  question.  There  are  so  many  cock-tails  to  run,  —  there 
can  be  no  disqualification.  Our  savage  friend,  in  .fact, 
insists  on  asking  everybody  he  sees,  and  we  are  lucky  if 
we  escape  the  infantry  and  the  junior  bar.     Here  's  the  list, 

—  a  goodly  catalogue  truly,  and  such  a  inacedoine  of  incon- 
gruities has  been  rarely  assembled,  even  at  old  Kennyfeck's 
dinner- table." 

"Why,  I  see  few  others  than  the  people  we  met  there 
t'  other  day." 

"Not  many;  but  please  to  remember  that  even  a  country 
house  has  limits,  and  that  some  of  the  guests,  at  least,  must 
have  separate  rooms.  To  be  serious,  Charley,  I  have  mis- 
used the  King's  press  damnably;  we  have  such  a  party  as 
few  have  ever  witnessed.  There  are  the  Kilgoffs,  the 
Whites,  the  Hamiltons,  along  with  the  Clan  Kennyfeck,  the 
Ridleys,  and  Mathew  ITanniiraii,  P^squire,  of  Bally-Hanni- 
gan,  the  new  Member  of  Parlinniont  for  Diinrone,  and  the 
last  convert  to  the  soothing  doctrines  of  Downie  Meek." 

"Is  Downie  coming?"  lisped  the  aide-de-camp. 

"Ay,  and  his  daughter,  too.  He  wrote  one  of  his  vel- 
vety epistles,  setting  forth  tlio  prayer  of  his  petition  in 
favor  of  'a  little  girl  yet  only  in  the  nursery.*" 


172  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Yes,  yes;  I  know  all  that.  Well,  I'm  not  sorry.  I 
like  Jemmy.  She  is  a  confounded  deal  better  than  her 
father,  and  is  a  capital  weight  to  put  on  a  young  horse,  and 
a  very  neat  hand  too.    Who  next?     Not  the  Dean,  I  hope." 

"No;  we  divided  on  the  Dean,  and  carried  his  exclusion 
by  a  large  majority.  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  was,  I  believe,  alone 
in  the  lobby." 

"Glad  of  that!  No  one  can  expect  an  Irish  visit  in  the 
country  without  rain,  and  he  's  an  awful  fellow  to  be  caged 
with,  when  out-o'-door  work  is  impracticable." 

"Then  there  are  the  Latrobes  and  the  Heatherbys;  in 
fact,  the  whole  set,  with  a  Polish  fellow,  of  course  a  Count, 
—  Deuroominski ;  a  literary  tourist,  brought  by  Mrs. 
White,  called  Howie;  and  a  small  little  dark  man  one  used 
to  see  two  seasons  ago,  that  sings  the  melodies  and  tells 
Irish  legends, — I  forget  the  name." 

"Promiscuous  and  varied,  certainly;  and  what  is  the 
order  of  the  course?  Are  there  to  be  games,  rural  sports, 
fireworks,  soaped  pigs,  and  other  like  intellectualities?  " 

"Precisely;  a  kind  of  coming-of-age  thing  on  a  grand 
scale.  I  have  engaged  Somerton's  dief ;  he  has  just  left 
his  place.  Gunter  sends  over  one  of  his  people;  and 
Dubos,  of  the  Cadran  Bleu,  is  to  forward  two  hampers  per 
week  from  Paris.  Hicksley  is  also  to  provide  all  requisites 
for  private  theatricals.  In  fact,  nearly  everything  has  been 
attended  to,  save  the  horse  department;  I  wish  you  'd  take 
that  under  your  protectorate ;  we  shall  want  any  number  of 
screws  for  saddle  and  harness,  with  drags,  breaks,  and 
machines  of  all  kinds,  to  drive  about  in.  Do,  pray,  be 
master  of  the  horse." 

"Thanks;  but  I  hate  and  detest  trouble  of  all  kinds.  So 
far  as  selling  you  two  of  my  own,  —  a  wall-eye  and  a  bone- 
spavin  included,  —  I  consent." 

"Agreed.  Everything  in  your  stable  carries  a  side- 
saddle; that  I  know,   so  name  your  figure." 

"A  hundred;  they  'd  bring  close  on  fifty  at  Dycer's  any 
day;  so  I  am  not  exorbitant,  as  these  are  election  times." 

"There  's  the  ticket,  then,"  said  Linton,  taking  out  a 
check-book  and  filling  up  a  leaf  for  the  sum,  which  he  tore 
out  and  presented  to  Lord  Charles. 


MR.  LINTON  REVEALS  HIS  DESIGNS.  173 

**What!  has  he  really  so  far  installed  you  as  to  —  " 
"As  to  give  blank  checks,"  said  the  other,  holding  up 
the  book  in  evidence,  where  "  Roland  Cashel  "  was  written 
on  a  vast  number  of  pages.  *'I  never  knew  the  glorious 
sense  of  generosity  before,  Charley.  I  have  heard  a  great 
deal  about  liberal  sentiments,  and  all  that  kind  o'  thing; 
but  now,  for  the  first  time,  do  I  feel  the  real  enjoyment  of 
indulgence.  To  understand  this  liberty  aright,  however,  a 
man  must  have  a  squeeze,  —  such  a  squeeze  as  I  have 
experienced  myself  once  or  twice  in  life;  and  then,  my 
boy,  as  the  song  says,"  —  here,  with  a  bold  rattling  air,  he 
sang  to  a  popular  melody,  — 

"  When  of  luck  you  've  no  card  up, 

And  feel  yourself  '  hard  up,' 
And  cannot  imagine  a  method  to  win ; 

When  *  friends  '  take  to  shy  you, 

And  Jews  to  deny  you, 
How  pleasant  to  dip  in  another  man's  tin ! 

"  Not  seeking  or  craving 

Some  petty ful  saving, 
You  draw  as  you  like  upon  Drummond  or  Gwynne, 

And,  while  pleasure  pursuing 

You  know  there 's  no  ruing 
The  cost  that  comes  out  of  another  man's  tin. 

Eh,  Charley!  that's  the  toast  we  'Chevaliers  Modernes* 
should  drink  before  the  health  of  the  royal  family." 

**The  royal  family!  "  sneered  Frobisher;  "I  never  ob- 
served that  loyalty  was  a  very  remarkable  trait  in  your 
character." 

"The  greater  injustice  yours,  then,"  said  Linton.  "I 
conceived  a  very  early  attachment  to  monarchy,  on  learning 
the  importance  of  the  king  at  ecarte." 

"I  should  have  thought  the  knave  had  more  of  your  sym- 
pathy," said  the  other. 

"Inasmuch  as  he  follows  the  queen,  I  suppose,"  said 
Linton,  good-humoredly,  laugliing.  "But  come,  don't  look 
so  grave,  old  fellow;  had  I  been  a  political  intrigant^ 
and  devoted  these  goodly  talents  of  mine  to  small  state 
rogueries  in  committees  and  adjourned  debates,  I  'd  have 


174  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

been  somebody  in  these  dull  times  of  aspiring  mediocrity; 
but  as  my  ambitions  have  never  soared  beyond  the  posses- 
sion of  what  may  carry  on  the  war  of  life,  irrespective  of 
its  graver  honors,  you  moralists  —  Heaven  bless  the  mark! 
—  rather  regard  me  distrustfully.  Now,  let  me  tell  you  a 
secret,  and  it 's  one  worth  the  knowing.  There  's  nothing 
so  fatal  to  a  man's  success  in  life  as  'a  little  character;  '  a 
really  great  one  may  dispense  with  every  kind  of  ability 
and  acquirement.  Get  your  name  once  up  in  our  English 
public,  and  you  may  talk,  preach,  and  write  the  most  rank 
nonsense  with  a  very  long  impunity;  but  a  little  char- 
acter, like  a  small  swimming  bladder,  only  buoys  you  up 
long  enough  to  reach  deep  water  and  be  drowned.  To 
journey  the  road  of  life  with  this  is  to  'carry  weight.' 
Take  my  advice,  — I  give  it  in  all  sincerity;  you  are  as 
poor  a  man  as  myself;  there  are  thousands  of  luxuries  you 
can  afford  yourself,  but  this  is  too  costly  an  indulgence  for 
a  small  fortune.  Your  '  little  character '  is  a  kind  of 
cankering  conscience,  not  strong  enough  to  keep  you  out  of 
wickedness,  but  sufficiently  active  to  make  you  miserable 
afterwards.  An  everlasting  suggester  of  small  scruples, 
it  leaves  a  man  no  time  for  anything  but  petty  expedients 
and  devices,  and  you  hang  suspended  all  your  life  between 
desire  and  denial,  without  the  comfort  of  the  one  or  the 
credit  of  the  other." 

"Is  the  sermon  over?"  said  Lord  Charles,  rather  affect- 
edly than  really  feeling  tired  of  the  "tirade,"  "or  are  you 
only  rehearsing  the  homily  before  you  preach  it  to  Roland 
Cashel?" 

"Quite  wrong  there,  my  Lord,"  said  Linton,  with  the 
same  imperturbable  temper.  "Cashel  is  rich  enough  to 
afford  himself  any  caprice,  even  a  good  name,  if  he  like  it. 
You  and  I  take  ours  as  we  do  railway  tickets,  any  number 
that's  given  us!"  And  with  this  speech,  delivered  in  an 
air  of  perfect  quietude,  but  still  emphatically  slow,  he 
settled  his  hat  on  before  the  glass,  arranged  his  whiskers, 
and  walked  away. 

Lord  Charles,  for  a  second,  seemed  disposed  to  make  an 
angry  reply,  but,  correcting  the  impulse,  he  walked  to  the 
window    in  silence.     "I  have  half  a  mind  to  spoil   your 


MR.  LINTON  REVEALS  HIS  DESIGNS.  175 

game,  my  worthy  friend,"  muttered  he,  as  the  other  passed 
across  the  court-yard;  "one  word  to  Cashel  would  do  it. 
To  be  sure  it  is  exploding  the  mine  with  one's  own  hand  to 
the  fusee;  that 's  to  be  thought  of."  And,  so  saying,  he  lay 
down  on  the  sofa  to  ruminate. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

AT    THE    GAMING    TABLE. 

"  Not  half  so  skilled  in  means  and  ways, 
The  '  hungry  Greek  '  of  classic  days 
His  cards  with  far  less  cunning  plays 

Thau  eke  our  modern  sharper  !  " 

When  Linton  had  determined  within  himself  to  make  Cashel 
"his  own,"  his  first  care  was  to  withdraw  him  from  the 
daily  society  of  the  Kennyfecks,  by  whose  familiar  inter- 
course a  great  share  of  influence  was  already  enjoyed  over 
their  young  guest.  This  was  not  so  easy  a  task  as  he  had 
at  first  imagined.  Cashel  had  tasted  of  the  pleasant  fasci- 
nation of  easy  intimacy  with  two  young  and  pretty  girls, 
eagerly  bent  on  being  agreeable  to  him.  He  was  in  all  the 
full  enjoyment  of  that  rare  union,  the  pleasure  of  being  at 
home  and  yet  an  honored  guest;  and  it  was  only  when 
Linton  suggested  that  late  hours  and  irregular  habits  were 
but  little  in  accordance  with  the  decorous  propriety  of  a 
family,  that  Cashel  yielded,  and  consented  to  remove  his 
residence  to  a  great  furnished  house  in  "Stephen's  Green," 
where  some  bygone  Chancellor  once  held  his  state. 

Linton  well  knew  that  if  "  Necessity  "  be  the  mother  of 
invention,  "Propinquity"  is  the  father  of  love;  that  there 
is  nothing  so  suggestive  of  the  tender  passion  as  that  lacka- 
daisical state  to  which  lounging  at  home  contributes,  and 
the  chance  meetings  with  a  pretty  girl.  The  little  inter- 
course on  the  stairs  going  down  to  breakfast,  the  dalliance 
in  the  conservatory,  the  chit-chat  before  dinner,  are  far 
more  formidable  than  all  the  formal  meetings  under  the 
blaze  of  wax-lights,  and  amid  the  crush  of  white  satin. 

"If  I  leave  him  much  longer  among  them,"  said  he  to 
himself,  "he'll  marry  one  of  these  girls;  and  then  adieu  to 


AT  THE  GAMING  TABLE.  177 

all  influence  over  him !  No  more  ecarte,  —  no  more  indis- 
criminate purchases  of  everything  I  propose, — no  more 
giving  'the  odds  against  the  field.*  A  wife  and  a  wife's 
family  are  heavy  recognizances  against  a  bachelor  friend's 
counsels." 

Cashel  was  really  sorry  to  leave  the  house  where  his  time 
had  passed  so  pleasantly.  The  very  alternation  of  his 
interest  regarding  the  two  sisters  had  kept  his  mind  in  a 
state  of  pleasant  incertitude,  now  seeing  something  to 
prefer  in  this,  now  in  that,  while  at  the  same  time  sug- 
gesting on  their  part  greater  efforts  to  please  and  amuse 
him.  If  Mr.  Kennyfeck  deemed  Cashel's  removal  a  very 
natural  step,  and  one  which  his  position  in  some  sort 
demanded,  not  so  his  wife.  She  inveighed  powerfully 
against  the  dangerous  intimacy  of  Linton,  and  the  ruinous 
consequences  such  an  ascendancy  would  lead  to.  "You 
should  tell  Mr.  Cashel  who  this  man  is,"  said  she, 
imperiously. 

"But  that  is  exactly  w^hat  nobody  knows,"  meekly 
responded  Mr.  Kennyfeck. 

"Pshaw!  every  one  knows  all  about  him.  You  can  tell 
him  how  he  ruined  young  Rushbrook,  and  in  less  than  two 
years  left  him  without  a  shilling." 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  shook  his  head,  as  though  to  say  that  the 
evidence  was  by  no  means  conclusive  on  that  count. 

"Yes,  you  may  aftect  not  to  believe  it,"  said  she,  angrily, 
"but  didn't  George  Lawson  see  the  check  for  eight  thou- 
sand paid  to  Linton  at  Latouche's  bank,  and  that  was  one 
evening's  work." 

"There  was  a  great  deal  of  high  play,  I  've  heard,  among 
them." 

"Oh,  indeed!  you've  heard  that  much,"  said  she,  scorn- 
fully; "probably,  too,  you've  heard  how  Linton  paid 
seventy  thousand  pounds  for  part  of  the  Dangwood  estate, 
—  he  that  had  not  sixpence  three  months  previous.  I  tell 
you,  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  that  you  have  labored  to  very  little 
purpose  to  establish  this  youns;  man's  claim  if  you  are  to 
stand  by  and  see  his  property  portioned  among  sharpers. 
There!  don't  start  and  look  so  frightened;  there  's  nobody 
listening,  and  if  there  were,  too,  I  don't  care.  I  tell  you, 
VOL.  I.  —  12 


178  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Mr.  Kennyfeck,  that  if  it  weren't  for  your  foolish  insuffi- 
ciency Cashel  would  propose  for  Olivia.  Yes!  the  thing  is 
plain  as  possible.  He  fell  in  love  with  her  the  very  night 
he  arrived ;  every  one  saw  it.  Jane  Lyons  told  me  how  it 
was  remarked  the  day  the  company  dined  here.  Leonard 
told  all  over  Dublin  how  she  chose  the  diamonds,  and  that 
Cashel  distinctly  referred  to  her  before  buying  them.  Then 
they  were  seen  together  driving  through  the  streets.  What 
more  would  you  have  ?  And  now  you  suffer  all  this  to  be 
undone  for  the  selfish  objects  of  Mr.  Linton;  but  I  tell  you, 
Mr.  Kennyfeck,  if  you're  a  fool,  I  am  not." 

"But  really  I  don't  see  —  " 

"You  don't  see!  I'm  sure  you  do  not.  You'd  see, 
however,  if  it  were  a  case  for  an  action  in  the  courts,  —  a 
vulgar  appeal  to  twelve  greasy  jurors,  —  you  'd  see  then. 
There  is  quite  enough  for  a  shabby  verdict!  But  I  regard 
the  affair  very  differently,  and  I  tell  you  frankly,  if  I  see 
Cashel  draw  off  in  his  attentions,  I  '11  send  for  my  cousin 
O' Gorman.  I  believe  you  can  assure  your  young  client 
that  he  '11  find  there  's  no  joking  with  him." 

Now  this  was  the  "most  unkindest  cut  of  all;"  for  if 
report  spoke  truly,  Mr.  Kennyfeck  had  himself  experienced 
from  that  gentleman  a  species  of  moral  force  impulsion 
which  left  the  most  unpleasant  reminiscences  behind. 

"I  beseech  you  to  remember,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  that  this 
agency  is  one  of  the  best  in  Ireland." 

"So  much  the  more  reason  to  have  the  principal  your 
son-in-law." 

"I'd  have  you  to  reflect  how  little  success  coercion  is  like 
to  have  with  a  person  of  Mr.  Cashel 's  temper." 

"Peter  is  the  best  shot  in  Ballinasloe,"  rejoined  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  sententiously. 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  nodded  a  full  assent,  but  seemed  to 
hazard  a  doubt  as  to  the  efficiency  of  such  skill. 

"I  repeat,  sir,  I'll  send  for  him.  Peter  knows  pretty 
well  what  ought  to  be  done  in  such  matters,  and  it 's  a  com- 
fort to  think  there  is  some  spirit  on  one  side  of  the  family, 
at  least."  Whether  to  afford  a  practical  illustration,  albeit 
negatively,  or  that  he  dreaded  a  continuance  of  the  contro- 
versy, Mr.  Kennyfeck  feigned  a  business  appointment,  and 


AT  THE   GAMING  TABLE.  179 

retired,  leaving  his  spouse  to  ponder  over  her  threat, 
and  resolve  with  herself  as  to  the  advantage  of  Peter's 
alliance. 

While  this  conjugal  discussion  engaged  papa  and  mamma, 
Cashel  was  endeavoring  to  explain  to  the  fair  daughters 
the  reasons  for  his  departure,  affecting  to  see  that  the  mul- 
tiplicity of  his  engagements  and  duties  required  a  step 
which  he  owned  was  far  from  agreeable  to  his  feelings. 

"I  suspected  how  soon  you  would  weary  of  us,"  said 
Olivia,  in  a  half  whisper. 

''We  ought  to  have  remembered,  Livy,"  said  the  elder 
sister,  "how  little  would  our  claims  upon  Mr.  Cashel 
appear  when  confronted  with  those  of  a  higher  station  in 
the  world." 

"I  assure  you,  you  wrong  both  yourselves  and  me.  I 
never  —  " 

"  Oh,  I  'm  certain  you  never  imagined  this  step.  I  can 
well  believe  that  if  it  were  not  for  advice  —  not  very  disin- 
terested, perhaps  —  you  would  have  still  condescended  to 
regard  this  as  your  home." 

"  If  I  suspected  that  this  removal  would  in  the  least  affect 
the  sentiments  I  entertain  for  my  kind  friends  here,  or  in 
any  way  alter  those  I  trust  they  feel  for  me,  I  'd  never  have 
adopted,  or,  having  adopted,  never  execute  it." 

"We  are  really  very  much  to  blame,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said 
Olivia  bashfully,  "in  suffering  our  feelings  to  sway  you 
on  a  matter  like  this.  It  was  only  too  kind  of  you  to  come 
here  at  first;  and  perhaps  even  yet  you  will  come  occasion- 
ally to  see  us." 

"Yes,  Mr.  Cashel,  Livy  is  right;  we  are  very  selfish  in 
our  wishes,  and  very  inconsiderate  besides.  Your  position 
in  the  world  requires  a  certain  mode  of  living,  a  certain 
class  of  acquaintances,  which  arc  not  ours.  It  is  far 
better,  then,  that  we  should  resign  ourselves  to  an  interrup- 
tion, than  wait  for  an  actual  breach  of  intimncy." 

Cashel  was  totally  at  a  loss  to  see  how  his  mere  change 
of  residence  could  possibly  imply  a  whole  train  of  altered 
feelings  and  relations,  and  was  about  to  express  his  aston- 
ishment on  that  score  when  Linton's  phaeton  drove  up  to 
the  door,  according  to  an  appointment  they  had  made  the 


180  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

day  before,  to  breakfast  with  the  officers  of  a  regiment 
quartered  a  short  distaoce  from  town. 

"There  is  your  friend^  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Miss  Kenny- 
feck,  with  a  marked  emphasis  on  the  word.  Cashel  mut- 
tered something  about  a  rendezvous,  and  took  up  his  hat, 
when  a  servant  entered  to  request  he  would  favor  Mr.  Kenny- 
feck  with  a  brief  interview  before  going  out. 

"Are  we  to  see  you  at  dinner  to-day?"  said  Olivia, 
languidly. 

"I  hope  so.  Mrs.  Kenny  feck  has  been  kind  enough  to 
ask  me,  and  I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure." 

"Will  Mr.  Linton  give  leave?"  said  Miss  Kenuyfeck, 
laughing;  and  then,  seeing  a  cloud  on  Cashel's  brow, 
added,  "I  meant,  if  you  had  made  no  appointment  with 
him." 

"I'm  self-vv'illed  enough  to  follow  my  own  bent  gener- 
ally," said  he,  abruptly,  and  left  the  room. 

"You  owe  that  gentleman  a  heavy  grudge,  Livy,"  said 
Miss  Kennyfeck,  as  she  approached  the  window  and  looked 
out. 

"Who  do  3^ou  mean,  dear?  " 

"Mr.  Linton.  Were  it  not  for  him,  I  half  think  you 
might  have  succeeded." 

"I  really  cannot  comprehend  you,"  said  the  younger, 
with  well-assumed  astonishment. 

"Of  course  not,  my  dear.  Still,  it  wl.s  a  difficult  game, 
even  if  left  all  to  yourself.  He  was  always  likely  to  siiiash 
the  tackle  at  the  moment  when  almost  caught.  There, 
don't  look  so  puzzled,  dear;  I  was  only  following  out  a 
little  reverie,  — that's  all." 

Meanwhile  Cashel  hastily  descended  the  stairs,  not  over 
good-humoredly  commenting  on  Mr.  Kennyfeck 's  ill-chosen 
moment  for  a  business  conversation.  "I  can  only  stay  a 
few  minutes,  or  rather  seconds,"  cried  he,  as  he  opened  the 
door  of  the  study;  and  then  checked  himself  as  he  perceived 
a  short,  stout  elderly  man,  of  venerable  appearance,  who 
rose  respectfully  from  his  chair  as  he  came  in. 

"Doctor  Tiernay,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Kennyfeck,  pre- 
senting the  stranger.  "I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  delay 
you,  sir,  since  it  would  be  a  great  convenience  if  you  could 


AT  THE  GAMING  TABLE.  181 

accord  this  gentleman  a  brief  hearing  at  present;  he  has 
come  above  a  hundred  miles  to  crave  it,  and  must  leave 
Dublin  by  the  afternoon  mail." 

"Without  it  be  Mr.  Cashel's  pleasure  to  detain  me,"  said 
the  doctor,  submissively. 

"He  is  a  tenant  of  your  Tubbermore  estate,  sir,"  resumed 
Kennyfeck,  "a  very  near  neighbor." 

"I  regret  that  I  am  pressed  for  time  at  this  moment,  sir," 
said  Cashel,  drawing  on  his  gloves  impatiently;  "but  I 
believe  it  is  the  less  consequence,  inasmuch  as  I  really  know 
nothing  —  absolutely  nothing  —  and  you,  Mr.  Kennyfeck, 
know  everything  about  that  propei'ty,  and  are  by  far  the 
best  person  to  hear  and  decide  upon  this  gentleman's  propo- 
sition, whatever  it  be." 

"It  is  a  case  that  must  be  decided  by  yourself,  sir,"  said 
the  doctor.  "  It  is  neither  a  matter  of  law  nor  right,  but  a 
simple  question  of  whether  you  will  do  an  act  of  great  kind- 
ness to  the  oldest  tenant  on  your  property,  —  a  man  who, 
now  overtaken  by  years  and  sickness,  may  not  perhaps  be 
alive  at  my  return  to  hear  of  your  benevolence." 

"It  is  about  this  renewal,  sir,"  interposed  Kennyfeck, 
who  saw  Cashel's  increasing  impatience  to  be  away.  "Mr. 
Corrigan's  lease  expires  on  the  25th." 

"He  is  now  struck  by  paralysis,"  interrupted  the  doctor; 
"and  his  only  prayer  is  to  be  suffered  to  die  beneath  the 
roof  where  he  has  lived  for  fifty  years." 

"A  tenant  at  will,"  interposed  Kennyfeck. 

"  Gracious  Heaven !  how  could  he  suppose  I  should  dream 
of  dispossessing  him?"  cried  Cashel.  "Of  course,  sir,  the 
house  is  his  own  so  long  as  he  pleases  to  hold  it.  Tell  him 
so.  Mr.  Kennyfeck  will  tell  him  from  me  that  he  need  not 
give  the  matter  another  thought.  I  am  sincerely  grieved 
that  it  should  have  already  caused  him  so  much  anxiety." 

"Ah,  sir,"  cried  the  doctor,  while  two  very  dubious 
drops  twinkled  in  his  eyes,  "you  are  indeed  wortliy  of  the 
good  fortune  that  has  befallen  you.  My  poor  old  friend  will 
bless  you,  with  a  prouder  heart  in  his  belief  in  human 
nature  than  even  his  gratitude  could  suggest.  Farewell, 
sir,  and  may  you  long  live  to  be  as  happy  as  you  know  how 
to  make  others." 


182  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

With  an  impulse  of  irrepressible  warmth  the  old  man 
seized  Cashel's  hand  in  both  his  own,  and  pressed  it  cor- 
dially, when  the  door  suddenly  opened,  and  Linton,  dressed 
in  a  riding  costume,  appeared. 

"What,  Roland,  at  business  so  early.  Do  you  know 
you  're  an  hour  behind  time?  " 

"I  do;  but  I  could  n't  help  it.  In  fact,  this  was  unex- 
pected —  " 

"It  was  an  act  of  benevolence,  sir,  detained  Mr.  Cashel," 
interrupted  the  doctor.  "I  believe  no  appointment  can 
be  broken  with  a  safer  apology." 

"Ho!  ho!"  said  Linton,  throwing  up  his  eyebrows,  as  if 
he  suspected  a  snare  to  his  friend's  simplicity.  "Which  of 
the  missions  to  convert  the  blacks,  or  what  family  of  con- 
tinuous twins  are  you  patronizing?  " 

"Good-bye,  sir,"  said  the  doctor,  turning  towards  Cashel. 
"I  'd  ask  your  pardon  for  the  liberty  I  have  already  taken 
with  you,  if  I  were  not  about  to  transgress  again."  Here 
he  looked  Linton  fully  in  the  face.  "  Mr.  Cashel  has  done 
a  kind  and  worthy  action  this  morning,  sir;  but  if  he  does 
many  more  such,  and  keep  your  company,  he  is  not  only  a 
good  man,  but  the  strongest  principled  one  I  ever  met 
with." 

As  the  last  word  was  uttered,  the  door  closed  after  him, 
and  he  was  gone. 

"So  then,  I'm  the  Mephistopheles  to  your  Faust,"  said 
Linton,  laughing  heartily;  "but  what  piece  of  credulous 
benevolence  has  cost  you  this  panegyric  and  me  this 
censure?  " 

"Oh,  a  mere  trifle,"  said  Cashel,  preparing  to  leave,  —  "a 
simple  grant  of  renewal  to  an  old  tenant  on  my  estate." 

"Only  that,"  said  Linton,  affecting  the  coolest  indiffer- 
ence, while  by  a  keen  glance  at  Kennyfeck  he  revealed  a 
profound  consciousness  of  his  friend's  simplicity. 

"Nothing  more,  upon  my  honor;  that  little  cottage  of 
Tubber-beg." 

"  Not  that  fishing  lodge  beside  the  river,  in  an  angle  of 
your  own  demesne?"  asked  Linton,  eagerly. 

"The  same.    Why,  what  of  it?  " 

"Nothing,  save  that  your  magnanimity  is  but  one-sided, 


AT  THE  GAMING  TABLE.  183 

since  only  so  late  as  Thursday  last,  when  we  looked  over 
the  map  together,  you  gave  me  that  cottage  until  such  time 
as  you  should  include  the  farm  within  the  demesne." 

"By  Jupiter,  and  so  I  did!"  exclaimed  Cashel,  while  a 
flush  of  shame  covered  his  face  and  forehead;  "v,hat  a  con- 
founded memory  I  have !     What  is  to  be  done  ?  " 

"Oh,  never  fret  about  it,"  said  Linton,  taking  his  arm, 
and  leading  him  away;  "the  thing  is  easily  settled.  What 
do  I  want  with  the  cottage?  The  old  gentleman  is,  doubt- 
less, a  far  more  rural  personage  than  I  should  prove.  Let 
us  not  forget  Aubrey's  breakfast,  which,  if  we  wait  much 
longer,  will  be  a  luncheon.  The  ladies  well,  Mr.  Kenny- 
feck?"  This  was  the  first  time  he  had  noticed  that 
gentleman. 

"Quite  well,  Mr.  Linton,"  said  he,  bowing  politely. 

"Pray  present  my  respects.  By  the  way,  you  don't  want 
a  side-saddle  horse,  do  you  ?  " 

"I  thank  you,  we  are  supplied." 

"  What  a  pity !  I  've  got  such  a  gray,  with  that  swinging 
low  cantering  action  Miss  Kennyfeck  likes;  she  rides  so 
well!     I  wish  she'd  try  him." 

A  shake  of  the  head  and  a  bland  smile  intimated  a  mild 
refusal. 

"Inexorable  father!  Come,  Cashel,  you  shall  make  the 
amende  for  having  given  away  my  cottage;  you  must  buy 
Reginald  and  make  him  a  present  to  the  lady." 

"Agreed,"  said  Cashel;  "send  him  over  to-day;  he's 
mine,  or  rather  Miss  Kennyfeck's.  Nay,  sir,  really  I  will 
not  be  opposed.     Mr.  Kennyfeck,  I  insist." 

The  worthy  attorney  yielded,  but  not  without  reluctance, 
and  saw  them  depart,  with  grave  misgivings  that  the  old 
doctor's  sentiment  was  truly  spoken,  and  that  Linton's 
companionship  was  a  most  unhappy  accident. 

"I  must  get  into  Parliament,"  said  Linton,  as  he  seated 
himself  beside  Cashel  in  the  phaeton,  "if  it  were  only  to 
quote  you  as  one  of  that  much-belied  class,  the  Irish  land- 
lord. The  man  who  grants  renewals  of  his  best  land  on 
terms  contracted  three  hundred  years  ago  is  very  much 
wanted  just  now.  What  a  sensation  it  would  create  in  the 
House  when  they  cry,  '  Name,  name,'  and  I  reply  that  I  am 


184  KOLAND  CASHEL. 

under  a  positive  personal  injunction  not  to  name,  and 
then  Sharman  Crawford,  or  one  of  that  set,  rises  and  avers 
that  he  believed  the  honorable  and  learned  gentleman's 
statement  to  be  perfectly  unfounded.  Amid  a  deluge  of 
'  Ohs ! '  I  stand  up  and  boldly  declare  that  further  reserve 
is  no  longer  possible,  and  that  the  gentleman  whom  I  am 
so  proud  to  call  my  friend  is  Roland  Cashel,  Esq.,  of 
Tubbermore.  There  's  immortality  for  you,  for  that  even- 
ing at  any  rate.  You  '11  be  toasted  at  Bellamy's  at  supper, 
and  by  the  white-headed  old  gentlemen  who  sit  in  the 
window  at  the  Carlton." 

"You'll  not  hint  that  I  had  already  made  a  present  of 
the  lands  when  I  displayed  so  much  munificence,"  said 
Cashel,  smiling. 

"Not  a  syllable;  but  I '11  tell  the  secret  to  the  Opposi- 
tion, if  you  ever  grow  restive,"  said  Linton,  with  a  laugh, 
in  which,  had  Roland  studied  Lavater,  he  might  have  read 
a  valuable  lesson. 

"^  propos  of  Parliament,  Kennyfeck  persists  in  boring 
me  about  it,  and  that  Mr.  Downie  Meek  seems  to  have  it 
at  heart  that  I  am  to  represent  something  or  somebody,  well 
knowing,  the  while,  that  I  cannot  possibly  be  supposed  to 
understand  anything  of  the  interests  whereon  I  should  be 
called  to  vote  and  legislate." 

"That 's  not  so  much  consequence,"  said  Linton ;  "you  'd 
find  a  very  strong  section  of  the  House  very  like  yourself, 
but  the  thing  would  bore  you;  you  would  neither  like  the 
fatigue  nor  the  slavery  of  it;  and,  positively,  there  is  no 
excitement,  save  for  the  half-dozen  who  reall}^  contest  the 
race.  Meek,  and  others  of  the  same  stamp,  will  tell  you 
that  property  should  be  represented  in  the  Legislature.  I 
agree  fully  with  the  sentiment,  so  it  should.  So  also  should 
a  man's  rents  be  collected,  but  that 's  no  reason  he  should 
be  his  own  agent,  when  he  can  find  another,  far  more  capa- 
ble, ready  for  office.  — Touch  that  off-side  horse,  he  '11  skulk 
his  collar  when  he  can.  —  Now,  if  you  have  county  or 
borough  influence  going  a  begging,  send  in  your  nominee, 
any  fellow  who'll  suit  your  views,  and  express  j^our  opin- 
ions, —  myself,  for  instance,"  said  he,  laughing,  "for  want 
of  a  better.  — Those  manes  don't  lie  right;  that  uear-sider's 


AT  THE   GAMING  TABLE.  185 

falls  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  neck.  —  The  great  secret  for 
any  man  situated  as  you  are  is  to  avoid  all  complications, 
political,  social,  and  matrimonial.  You  have  a  glorious 
open  country  before  you,  if  there  be  no  cross-riding  to 
spoil  your  run." 

"Well,  I  am  not  above  taking  advice,"  said  Cashel; 
''but  really  I  must  own  that,  from  the  little  I've  seen  of 
the  matter,  it  seems  harder  to  go  through  life  with  a  good 
fortune  than  without  a  shilling.  I  know  that,  as  a  poor 
man,  very  lately  —  " 

"  Come,  come,  you  know  very  little  of  what  poverty 
means ;  you  've  been  leading  a  gay  life  in  a  land  where  men 
do  by  one  bold  enterprise  the  work  which  costs  years  of 
slow  toil  in  our  tamer  regions.  Now,  I  should  have  liked 
that  kind  of  thing  myself.  Ay,  you  may  smile,  that  a  man 
who  devotes  a  large  share  of  each  day  to  the  tie  of  his  cravat, 
and  the  immaculate  elegance  of  his  boots,  should  venture  to 
talk  of  prairie  life  and  adventure.  Take  care !  By  Jove ! 
I  thought  you  were  into  that  apple-stall." 

"  Never  say  it  twice,"  cried  Cashel,  gayly.  "  I  'm  begin- 
ning to  feel  confoundedly  tired  of  this  life  here ;  and,  if  I 
don't  find  that  it  improves  on  acquaintance,  I  '11  take  a  run 
down  west,  just  to  refresh  my  spirits.  Will  you  come 
with  me  ?  " 

"With  my  whole  heart  I  join  the  proposal;  but  you  are 
not  serious ;  I  know  you  are  merely  jesting  in  all  this." 

"  Perfectly  serious.  I  am  decidedly  weary  of  seven  o'clock 
dinners  and  morning  calls.     But  here  we  are." 

As  he  spoke,  they  drove  into  the  barrack-yard,  where 
groups  of  lounging  officers,  in  every  variety  of  undress, 
were  seen  in  all  the  insipid  enjoyment  of  that  cigar-smoking 
existence  which  forms  the  first  article  in  our  military  code 
of  education. 

The  gallant  — th  Light  Dragoons  were  a  "  fast  regiment," 
and  the  inventors  of  that  new  locomotive  on  the  road  to  ruin 
called  a  "  mess  breakfast,"  —  a  meal  where  champagne  flows 
with  a  profusion  rarely  seen  at  dinner,  and  by  which  men 
begin  the  day  in  a  frame  of  mind  tliat  would  not  be  very 
decorous  even  when  concluding  it.  Cashel,  being  an  hon- 
ored guest,  drank  wine  with  every  one,  not  to  speak  of  par 


186  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

ticipating  in  various  little  bibatory  trios  and  quartets,  so 
that  when  the  entertainment  drew  to  a  close  he  was  very 
far  from  that  self-possession  and  command  which,  with  all 
his  high  spirits,  seldom  deserted  him. 

A  tremendous  fall  of  rain,  that  showed  no  prospect  of 
ceasing,  had  just  set  in,  so  that  the  party  agreed  to  repair 
to  the  major's  rooms,  and  make  a  pool  at  ecarte.  After 
some  talking  about  play  in  general,  and  some  quizzing 
about  not  being  able  to  bet  a  sum  such  as  Cashel  would  care 
to  play  for,  the  game  began. 

Notwithstanding  the  apologies,  the  play  was  high,  so 
much  so,  that  Cashel,  never  a  very  shrewd  observer,  could 
not  help  remarking  that  several  of  the  players  could  not 
conceal  the  anxiety  the  game  inspired. 

Roland  himself  joined  less  from  inclination  than  fellow- 
ship, and  far  better  pleased  to  be  at  liberty  to  chat  with 
some  of  the  others  than  to  be  seated  at  the  table,  he  arose 
each  time  he  lost,  well  content  to  pay  for  freedom  by  his 
gold.  His  natural  indifference,  added  to  a  perfect  careless- 
ness about  money,  induced  him  to  accept  any  bet  that  was 
offered,  and  these  were  freely  proposed,  since,  in  play  par- 
lance^ "  the  run  was  against  him;  "  so  that,  ere  the  trumpet- 
call  announced  the  time  to  dress  for  the  mess,  he  had  lost 
heavily. 

''You  have  no  idea  how  much  you  have  lost?"  said  Lin- 
ton, in  a  low  voice,  and  with  a  gravity  of  manner  almost 
reproachful. 

''Not  the  slightest,"  said  Cashel,  laughing. 

"  I  can  tell  you,  then,  for  I  have  totted  it  up.  This 
morning's  work  has  cost  you  seven  thousand  some  hun- 
dred pounds." 

"Indeed!"  said  Cashel,  a  flush  rather  of  shame  than 
displeasure  mantling  on  his  features.  "I'll  give  it  up  in 
future." 

"No,  no!  not  till  you've  had  your  revenge,"  whispered 
Linton.  "  We  '11  stay  for  the  mess,  and  have  at  them  again. 
The  night  is  terrific,  and  no  possibility  of  leaving." 

The  mess  followed,  and  although  play  was  to  succeed  it, 
the  party  drank  freely,  and  sat  long  over  their  wine ;  even 
Linton  himself  seemed  to  linger  at  the  table,  and  leave  it 
with  regret. 


AT  THE   GAMING  TABLE.  187 

As  for  Cashel,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  wished  to 
play.  No  desii'e  for  money-getting,  no  mean  passion  for 
gain,  suggested  the  wish,  it  was  simply  a  piqued  vanity  at 
being  beaten  ;  a  sense  of  indignity  that  his  inferiority  should 
seem  to  be  implied,  even  in  so  trifling  a  matter,  urged  him  on, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  vote  for  a  return  to  e'carte. 

Except  Linton,  there  was  not  probably  one  who  could  be 
called  a  good  player  in  the  party ;  but  luck,  which  has  more 
than  the  mastery  over  skill,  supplied  the  place  of  knowledge, 
and  Cashel  was  the  only  heavy  loser  of  the  whole  assem- 
bly. Stung  by  continued  failure,  too,  he  betted  madly  and 
foolishly,  so  that  as  the  day  was  breaking,  and  the  stir  in 
the  barrack-yard  announced  the  approaching  parade,  his 
losses  reached  more  than  double  what  they  had  been  in  the 
morning. 

"  I  say,  lads !  "  said  the  major,  as  they  all  arose  from  the 
table,  ''  one  word  before  you  go."  So  saying,  he  turned  the 
key  in  the  door,  and  stood  with  his  back  against  it.  "Be- 
fore any  one  leaves  the  room,  each  must  promise  on  his 
honor  not  to  mention  a  syllable  of  this  night's  business.  We 
all  know  that  we  have  been  playing  far  higher  stakes  than 
ever  we  've  been  in  the  habit  of.  The  report,  if  it  get 
abroad,  would  ruin  the  regiment." 

''Oh,  we  all  promise  not  a  word  shall  be  said  about  it," 
cried  out  several  voices  together.  "There's  the  second 
trumpet !  "  So  saying,  they  hastened  pell-mell  to  dress  for 
the  parade,  while  Cashel,  taking  Linton's  arm,  set  out 
homewards. 

"I  say,  Tom!"  said  Roland,  after  they  had  walked  on 
for  some  time  in  silence,  "I  am  somewhat  ashamed  of  this 
exploit  of  mine,  and  would  not  for  a  great  deal  that  Kenny- 
feck  should  know  it.  Is  there  no  way  of  getting  this  money 
by  loan  ?  —  for  if  I  draw  now  —  " 

"  Make  your  mind  quite  easy;  I'll  arrange  that  for  you. 
Don't  worry  yourself  about  it.  It's  a  bore,  of  course,  to 
lose  a  round  sum  like  that ;  but  you  can  afford  it,  my  boy, 
that 's  one  comfort.  If  it  had  been  me,  by  Jove,  the  half  of 
it  would  have  drained  the  well ! "  This  said,  he  hastily 
changed  the  topic,  and  they  walked  along  chatting  of  every* 
thing  save  the  late  party. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

WHAT   ROLAND    OVERHEARD    AT    THE    MONEY    LENDER'S. 

The  money  that  "  at  play  "  is  spent 
Must  oft  be  raised  at  "  cent  per  cent." 

The  Mode. 

"  Good  night,  or  rather  good  morrow,"  said  Linton,  as  he 
stood  with  Cashel  on  the  steps  of  his  newly  taken  residence. 

Cashel  made  no  reply ;  his  thoughts  were  recurring  to  the 
scene  of  the  late  debauch,  and  in  some  pangs  of  self-reproach 
he  was  recalling  the  heavy  sum  he  had  lost.  "  You  spoke  of 
my  being  able  to  raise  this  money,  Linton,  without  Kenny- 
feck's  knowing  ;  for  I  am  really  ashamed  of  the  affau*.  Tell 
me  how  can  it  be  done  ?  " 

"Nothing  easier." 

"  Nay,  but  when?  for,  if  I  must  confess  it,  I  can  think  of 
nothing  else  till  it  be  arranged." 

"What  a  timid  conscience  yours  must  be,"  said  Linton, 
laughing,  "  that  cannot  sleep  lest  the  ghosts  of  his  I.  O.'s 
should  haunt  him." 

"  The  fact  is  so,  nevertheless.  The  very  gloomy  moments 
of  my  life  have  been  associated  with  play  transactions. 
This  shall  be  the  last." 

"What  folly!  You  suffer  mere  passing  impressions  to 
wear  deep  into  your  nature,  —  you  that  should  be  a  man  of 
nerve  and  vigor.  What  can  it  possibly  signify  that  you  have 
thrown  away  a  few  hundreds,  or  a  few  thousands  either?  " 

"Very  little  as  regards  the  money,  I  own;  but  I'm  not 
certain  how  long  my  indifference  respecting  play  might  last. 
I  am  not  sure  how  long  I  could  endure  being  beaten  —  for 
that  is  the  sense  losing  suggests — without  a  desire  to  con- 


ROLAND  AT  THE  MONEY  LENDER'S.  189 

quer  in  turn.  Now  up  to  this  I  have  played  to  oblige  others, 
without  interest  or  excitement  of  any  kind.  What  if  I 
should  change  and  become  a  gambler  from  choice?" 

"  Why,  if  you  propound  the  question  with  that  solemn 
air,  you  '11  almost  frighten  me  into  believing  it  would  be 
something  very  terrible;  but  if  you  ask  me  simply  what 
would  be  the  result  of  your  growing  fond  of  play,  I  '11  tell 
you  fairly,  it's  a  pleasure  gained,  —  one  of  the  few  resources 
which  only  a  rich  man  can  afford  with  impunity,  so  much 
the  more  fascinating  that  it  can  be  indulged  in  such  per- 
fect accordance  with  every  humor  of  a  man's  mind.  If 
you  are  so  inclined,  you  play  low,  and  coquet  with  fortune, 
or  if  lavishly  given,  you  throw  the  reins  loose  and  go  free. 
Now  it  seems  to  me  that  nothing  could  better  suit  the  care- 
less, open-handed  freedom  of  your  habits  than  the  vacilla- 
tions of  high  play.  It 's  the  only  way  that  even  for  a 
moment  you  can  taste  the  sensation  of  being  hard  pressed, 
while  in  the  high  flood  of  luck  you  can  feel  that  gushing 
sense  of  power  that  somehow  seems  to  be  the  secret  soul  of 
gold  ! " 

"  Men  must  lose  with  a  very  different  look  upon  their 
features  before  I  can  win  with  the  ecstasy  you  speak  of," 
cried  Cashel.  ''But  where  are  we  straying  to,  — what  part 
of  the  town  have  we  got  into?  " 

"  This  is  the  cattle-market,"  said  Linton,  "  and  I  have 
brought  you  here  because  I  saw  you  'd  not  close  your  eyes 
till  that  silly  affair  was  settled ;  and  here  we  are  now  at 
Dan  Hoare's  counting-house,  the  man  of  all  others  to  aid 
us.  Follow  me ;  I  ought  to  know  the  stairs  well,  in  daylight 
or  dark." 

Cautiously  following  his  guide,  Cashel  mounted  a  half- 
rotten,  creaky  stair,  which  passed  up  between  two  damp 
and  mildewed  walls,  and  entered  a  small  chamber  whose 
one  window  looked  out  in  a  dirty  court.  The  only  furni- 
ture consisted  of  two  deal  chairs  and  a  table,  on  which 
various  inscriptions  made  by  penknives  betokened  the 
patience  and  zeal  of  former  visitors. 

Linton  passed  on  to  the  end  of  the  chamber,  where  was 
a  narrow  door,  but  suddenly  halted  as  his  eye  caught  a 
little  slip  of  paper  attached  to  a  sliding  panel,  and  which 


190  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

bore  the  word  "Engaged."  "Ha!"  cried  he,  "one  here 
already !  You  see,  early  as  it  is,  Dan  is  at  work,  discount- 
ing and  protesting  as  usual.  By  the  way,  I  have  forgot  one 
essential :  he  never  gives  a  stamp,  and  so  I  must  provide 
one.  Wait  for  me  here ;  there  is  a  place  in  the  neighbor- 
hood where  they  can  be  had,  and  I  '11  be  back  presently." 

Cashel  sat  himself  down  in  the  cheerless  little  den,  think- 
ing of  the  many  who  might  have  waited  there  before,  in 
so  many  frames  of  anxiety  and  torturing  suspense.  His  own 
memory  could  recall  a  somewhat  similar  character  in  Geiz- 
heimer,  and  while  he  was  thus  remembering  some  features 
of  the  past  he  fell  into  a  reverie,  forgetting  time  and  place 
together,  the  sound  of  voices  from  the  adjoining  room 
serving  rather  to  lull  than  arouse  his  attention.  At  last  a 
word  caught  his  ear.  He  started  suddenly,  and,  looking 
about  him  for  a  second,  experienced  almost  a  difficulty  to 
remember  where  he  was.  Could  it  be  possible,  or  was  it 
mere  fancy  ?  but  he  believed  he  heard  his  name  mentioned  by 
some  one  within  that  room.  Less  caring  to  know  how  or  by 
whom  the  name  was  spoken  than  if  the  fact  were  actually 
so,  he  leaned  forward  on  his  chair,  and  bent  his  ear  to  listen, 
when  he  heard,  in  a  voice  louder  than  had  been  used  before, 
the  following  words :  — 

"It  may  be  all  as  you  say,  sir;  I  won't  pretend  to  throw 
a  doubt  upon  your  words ;  but,  as  a  mere  man  of  business, 
I  may  be  permitted  to  sa}^  that  this  promise,  however  satis- 
factory to  your  friend's  feelings,  is  not  worth  a  sixpence  in 
law.  Corrigan  asks  for  a  renewal  of  his  lease,  and  the  other 
says,  'Keep  your  holding, — don't  disturb  yourself,'  —  and 
there  he  is,  a  tenant  at  will.  Now,  for  the  purposes  you 
have  in  view  towards  me,  that  pledge  goes  for  nothing. 
I  cannot  renew  these  bills  upon  such  frail  security.  If  the 
old  man  cannot  find  means  to  meet  them,  Leicester  must, 
that 's  all." 

"Leicester  is  a  villain!"  cried  another  and  a  deeper 
voice,  whose  tones  seemed  not  quite  strange  to  Roland's 
ears.  "He  has  ruined  my  poor  old  friend;  he  will  soon 
leave  him  houseless,  and  he  threatens  to  leave  him  almost 
friendless  too." 

"  He  told  me,"  said  the  other,  "  he  should  certainly  claim 


ROLAND  AT  THE  MONEY  LENDER'S.  191 

his  daughter,  and  means  to  return  next  summer  for  that 
purpose." 

''  I  almost  hope  poor  Con  will  never  live  to  see  that 
day,"  said  the  former,  with  a  heavy  sigh. 

*'  Well,  to  return  to  our  own  affair,  sir,  I  tell  you  frankly, 
I  don't  consider  Cashel's  promise  deserving  of  any  con- 
sideration. He  doubtless  means  to  keep  it;  that's  the 
very  most  anybody  can  say  about  it.  But  remember  what 
a  life  he  is  leading :  he  has  drawn  about  thirty  thousand 
out  of  Latrobe's  hands  in  three  months,  —  no  one  knows  for 
what.  He  has  got  among  a  set  of  men  who  play  high,  and 
cannot  pay  if  they  lose.  Now,  his  estate  is  a  good  one ; 
but  it  can't  last  forever.  My  notion  is  that  the  young 
fellow  will  end  as  he  began,  and  become  a  buccaneer  once 
more." 

"He  has  a  long  course  to  run  ere  that  comes,"  said  the 
other. 

"Not  so  long  as  you  fancy.  There  are  demands  upon 
him  from  quarters  you  little  suspect,  or  that,  for  the  mo- 
ment, he  little  suspects  himself.  It  would  surprise  you  to 
hear  that  he  is  in  Leicester's  hands  too." 

"Roland  Cashel  —  Mr.  Cashel  —  in  Leicester's  hands! 
How  do  you  mean?" 

Just  at  this  instant  Linton's  foot  was  heard  ascending 
the  stairs,  and  Cashel,  whose  eagerness  to  hear  the  remain- 
der became  a  perfect  torture  of  anxiety,  was  forced  to  lose 
the  opportunity. 

"  What  a  hunt  I  have  had !  "  said  Linton,  as  he  entered, 
flushed  and  weary-looking.  "  Our  amount  is  rather  above 
the  ordinary  mark,  and  I  found  it  almost  impossible  to 
procure  the  stamps.     Are  you  tired  waiting?" 

"  No,  — nothing  to  speak  of,"  said  Cashel,  confusedly. 

"  Well,  I  fancy  our  friend  here  has  had  much  more  than 
his  share  of  an  audience.     I  '11  see,  and  unearth  him." 

And  so  saying,  Linton  knocked  with  his  cane  at  the  door. 
A  low  murmuring  of  voices  succeeded,  the  sound  of  feet 
followed,  and  soon  after  the  door  was  opened,  and  a  small, 
thin,  pale-faced  man  in  black  appeared. 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Hoare.  Here  have  we  been  play- 
ing antechamber  to  your  serene  highness  for  full  an  hour. 


192  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

This  is  Mr.  Roland  Cashel,  IVIr.  Hoare,  who  wishes  to  make 
your  acquaintance." 

The  little  man  turned  his  quick  gray  eyes  towards  Cashel 
with  a  most  scrutinizing  keenness ;  but,  as  suddenly  with- 
drawing them,  invited  both  to  enter. 

"Be  seated,  gentlemen.  Pardon  the  humble  accommo- 
dation of  this  place.     Take  a  chair,  Mr.  Linton, " 

*'We  want  tin,  Mr.  Hoare,"  said  Linton,  slapping  his 
boot  with  his  cane,  —  "  that  most  universal  and  vulgar  want. 
My  friend  here  desires  to  raise  a  sum  without  ha\ing  re- 
course to  his  agent,  and  I  believe  no  man  can  aid  in  a  little 
secret-service  transaction  like  yourself." 

"Is  the  sum  a  large  one,  sir?"  said  Hoare,  addressing 
Cashel. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you  exactly,"  said  Cashel,  in  some  con- 
fusion at  the  confession  of  his  ignorance.  "I  fancy  it 
must  be  close  on  ten  or  twelve  thousand  pounds." 

"More  like  twenty!"  cried  Linton,  coolly.  Then,  turn- 
ing to  Hoare,  he  went  on :  "  My  friend  here  is,  happily  for 
him,  very  little  skilled  in  affairs  of  this  kind,  and,  as  his 
security  is  about  the  best  that  can  be  offered,  he  need 
not  buy  his  experience  very  dearly.  Now  just  tell  us, 
frankly,  how,  when,  and  on  what  terms  he  can  have  this 
money." 

"  Money  is  scarce  just  now,  sir,"  said  Hoare;  "but  as 
to  securities,  Mr.  Cashel's  bills  are  quite  sufficient.  There 
is  no  necessity  for  any  legal  expenses  whatever.  I  need  not 
say  that  the  transaction  shall  be  perfectly  secret :  in  fact, 
I'll  keep  the  bills  in  my  own  hands  till  due." 

"  There,  that's  the  man  I  told  you  he  was,"  cried  Linton. 
"  A  Croesus  in  generosity  as  in  gold.  I  would  I  were  your 
son,  or  your  son-in-law,  Hoare." 

"Too  much  honor,  Mr.  Linton,"  said  the  money-lender^ 
whose  slight  flush  did  not  betoken  a  concurrence  in  his  own 
words.  "  Now  to  business,"  continued  he,  addressing 
Cashel.  "  If  you  favor  me  with  your  name  on  four  bills 
for  five  thousand  each,  and  the  accompanying  charges  for 
interest,  discount,  commission,  and  so  on,  I  '11  engage  that 
you  have  this  money  within  the  week." 

"Could  it  not  be  to-morrow?     I  should  like   greatly  to 


ROLAND  AT  THE   MONEY  LENDER'S. 


193 


have  the  whole  off  my  mind ;    and  as  T  mean  not  to  play 
again  — '* 

'*Pooh,  pooh,"  said  Linton,  stopping  an  explanation  he 
was  by  no  means  pleased  Hoare  should  hear;  "  time  enough 
for  resolutions,  and  time  enough  for  payment  too.  By  the 
end  of  the  week,  Hoare,  will  do  perfectly.     You  can  bring 


the  bills  with  you  to  my  quarters,  say  on  Saturday  morn- 
ing, and  we  '11  drive  over  to  Mr.  Cashers." 

"Very  well.  I'll  be  punctual.  At  eleven  on  Saturday 
expect  me.  May  I  bring  that  little  thing  of  yours  for  two 
hundred  pounds  with  it,   Mr.   Linton  ?  " 

"Of  course  you  may  not.  Where  do  you  expect  me  to 
find  money  for  the  debts  of  last  year?  INIy  dear  Hoare,  I 
have  no  more  memory  for  such  things  than  I  have  for  the 
sorrows  of  childhood." 

VOL.  I. —  13 


194  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'Ah,  very  well,  sir,  we'll  keep  it  over,"  said  Hoarc, 
smiling. 

"  Let  him  bring  it,"  whispered  Cashel,  "  and  include  it  in 
one  of  my  bills.  There  's  nothing  so  worrying  as  an  over- 
hanging debt." 

"Do  you  think  so?"  replied  Linton.  "Bless  me,  I 
never  felt  that.  A  life  without  duns  is  like  a  sky  without 
a  cloud,  very  agreeable  for  a  short  time,  but  soon  becom- 
ing wearisome  from  very  monotony.  You  grow  as  sick  of 
uninterrupted  blue  as  ever  you  did  of  impending  rain  and 
storm.  Let  me  have  the  landscape  effect  of  light  and 
shadow  over  existence.  The  brilliant  bits  are  then  ten 
times  as  glorious  in  color,  and  the  dark  shadows  of 
one's  mortgages  only  heighten  the  warmth  of  the  picture. 
Ask  Hoare,  there,  he  '11  tell  you.  I  actually  cherish  my 
debts." 

"Very  true,  sir;  you  cannot  bear  to  part  with  them 
either." 

' '  Well  said,  old  Moses ;  the  '  interest '  they  inspire  is 
too  strong  for  one's  feelings.  But  hark!  I  hear  some 
fresh  arrivals  without.  Another  boat-load  of  the  d — d  has 
crossed  the  Styx." 

"Thanks  for  the  simile,  sir,"  said  Hoare,  smiling  faintly, 
—  "on  Saturday." 

"  On  Saturday,"  repeated  Linton. 

Cashel  lingered  as  he  left  the  room ;  a  longing  desire  to 
speak  one  word,  to  ask  one  question  of  Hoare  —  who  was 
this  Leicester  of  whom  he  spoke  ?  —  was  uppermost  in  his 
mind,  and  yet  he  did  not  dare  to  own  he  had  heard  the 
words.  He  could  have  wished,  too,  to  communicate  his 
tlioughts  to  Linton,  but  a  secret  fear  told  him  that  perhaps 
the  mystery  might  be  one  he  would  not  wish  revealed. 

"Why  so  thoughtful,  Roland?"  said  Linton,  after  trav- 
ersing some  streets  in  silence.  "  My  friend  Hoare  has  not 
terrified  you  ?  " 

"No,  I  was  not  thinking  of  him,"  said  Cashel.  "What 
kind  of  a  character  does  he  bear  ?  " 

"Pretty  much  that  of  all  his  class.  Sharp  enough,  when 
sharpness  is  called  for,  and  seemingly  liberal  if  liberality 
pays   better.     To   me  he  has  been  ever  generous.     Why, 


ROLAND  AT  THE   MONEY  LENDER'S.  195 

Heaven  knows ;  I  suppose  the  secret  will  out  one  of  these 
days.     I'm  sure  I  don't  ask  for  it." 

Linton's  flippancy,  for  the  first  time,  was  distasteful  to 
Cashel.  If  the  school  in  which  he  was  bred  taught  little 
remorse  about  the  sin  of  incurring  debt,  it  inculcated,  how- 
ever, a  manly  self-reliance  to  clear  off  the  encumbrance  by 
some  personal  effort,  and  he  by  no  means  sympathized  with 
the  cool  indifference  of  Linton's  philosophy.  Linton,  always 
shrewd  enough  to  know  when  he  had  not  "  made  a  hit,"  at 
once  turned  the  conversation  into  another  channel,  by  ask- 
ing at  what  time  Cashel  proposed  to  receive  his  visitors  at 
Tubbermore. 

"Is  the  honor  seriously  intended  me?  "  said  Cashel,  *'or 
is  it  merely  a  piece  of  fashionable  quizzing,  this  promised 
visit,  for  I  own  I  scarcely  supposed  so  many  fine  people 
would  like  to  encounter  the  hard  usage  of  such  an  old  ruin 
as  I  hear  this  must  be." 

''You'll  have  them  to  a  certainty.  I  doubt  if  there  will 
be  a  single  apology.  I  know  at  this  instant  the  most  urgent 
solicitations  have  been  employed  to  procure  invitations." 

"With  all  my  heart,  then,"  cried  Cashel;  "only  remem- 
ber the  order  of  the  course  depends  on  you.  I  know  noth- 
ing of  how  they  ought  to  be  entertained  or  amused.  Take 
the  whole  affair  into  your  own  hands,  and  I  shall  concur  in 
everything." 

"  Originality  is  always  better  than  imitation,  but  still,  if 
one  cannot  strike  out  a  totally  new  line,  what  do  you  think 
of  taking  old  Mathews  of  Johnstown  for  our  model,  and 
invite  all  our  guests  with  free  permission  to  dine,  breakfast, 
and  sup  at  what  hour  and  in  what  parties  they  please? 
This  combines  the  unbridled  freedom  of  an  inn  with  the 
hospitality  of  a  country  house.  Groups  form  as  fancy  dic- 
tates. New  combinations  spring  up  each  day,  —  no  fatigue, 
no  ennui^  can  ensue  with  such  endless  changes  in  companion- 
ship, and  you  yourself,  instead  of  the  fatiguing  duties  of  a 
host,  are  at  liberty,  like  any  of  your  guests,  to  join  this 
party  or  that.'* 

"  I  like  the  notion  immensely.  How  would  our  friends 
take  it,  for  that  is  the  point?  " 

"  It  would  be  popular  with  every  one,  for  it  will  suit  your 


196  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

people,  who  know  and  like  to  mix  with  every  set  in  society, 
and  at  the  same  time  gratify  your  '  exclusives,'  who  can 
form  their  own  little  coteries  with  all  the- jealous  selection 
they  love.  Besides,  it  avoids  another  and  a  great  difficulty. 
Had  you  received  in  ordinary  fashion,  you  must  have  asked 
some  lady  friend  to  have  done  the  honors  for  you.  This 
would  have  been  a  matter  of  the  greatest  embarrassment. 
The  Kennyfecks  have  not  rank  enough;  old  Lady  Janet 
would  have  frightened  every  one  away ;  Mrs.  White  would 
have  filled  the  house  with  her  own  '  blues,'  and  banished 
every  one  else;  and  as  for  Lady  Kilgoff,  who,  besides 
being  a  very  pretty  woman  and  well-mannered,  has  an  ex- 
ceedingly fascinating  way  with  strangers,  '  my  Lord '  is  so 
jealous,  so  absurdly,  madly  jealous,  that  she  dare  not  ask 
after  the  success  of  a  shooting-party  without  his  suspecting 
an  allegorical  allusion  to  Cupid  and  his  shafts." 

*'  Well,  then,  let  us  resolve  to  receive  '  en  Mathews  ; '  and 
now,  when  shall  we  name  the  day  ?  " 

"Let  us  wait  till  the  result  of  the  division  be  known  in 
Parliament.  A  change  of  ministers  is  hinted  at,  and  if  it 
were  to  occur,  you'll  have  every  one  hastening  away  to  his 
county  for  the  new  election;  by  Saturday  we  shall  learn 
everything,  and  that  will  be  time  enough." 

"In  any  case,  I  had  better  set  off  and  see  what  can  be 
done  to  put  the  house  in  a  fit  state  to  receive  them." 

"  Leave  all  that  to  me.  I'll  take  Popham,  the  architect, 
down  with  me,  and  you  need  never  trouble  your  head  about 
the  matter.  It's  quite  clear  people  who  accept  an  invitation 
like  the  present  must  put  up  with  a  hundred  small  penalties 
on  convenience.  The  liberty  of  such  a  house  always  repays 
whatever  is  wanting  on  the  score  of  ceremonial  and  order, 
and  your  fine  guests,  who  would  perhaps  give  themselves 
airs  towards  the  Kennyfecks  and  their  set  if  meeting  them 
elsewhere,  will  here  affect,  at  least,  a  tone  of  good-natured 
equality,  just  as  in  revolutionary  times  people  shake  hands 
with  their  hairdresser." 

'*  But  how  to  amuse  or  even  occupy  them !  that  is  a  great 
puzzle  to  me." 

"Leave  them  perfectly  to  their  own  devices.  In  fun 
there   should   be   always   free- trade.      Protection   ruins   it. 


ROLAND  AT  THE  MONEY  LENDER'S.  197 

But  all  this  is  Egyptian  to  you,  so  go  to  bed   and   sleep 
soundly,  and  leave  the  cares  of  state  to  me. 

"  On  me  the  glory  or  disgrace, 
The  pride  of  triumph  or  the  shame  of  fall." 

''Then  I'll  think  no  more  of  the  matter,"  said  Cashel; 
*'  and  so  good-by." 

''Now  for  a  twenty-four  hours'  sleep,"  said  Linton, 
"  and  then  once  more  to  roll  the  stone  of  life,  which,  by 
the  way,  gives  the  lie  to  the  old  adage,  for  unquestionably 
it  does  '  gather  moss '  as  we  grow  older." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

SCANNING   THE    POLITICAL    HORIZON. 

Confound  their  politics  !  —  National  Anthem. 

Linton  was  very  far  from  indulging  that  dreamy  inactivity 
of  which  he  spoke.  Plans  and  schemes  of  various  kinds 
occupied  his  thoughts  too  intently  to  admit  of  slumber. 
Indeed,  his  theory  was,  that,  if  a  man  could  not  dream  of 
some  happy  mode  of  advancing  his  fortune,  sleep  was  a 
fearful  inroad  upon  his  worldly  career. 

He  at  once  hastened  home  to  read  his  letters  and  news- 
papers, and  so  important  did  their  intelligence  seem,  that  he 
only  delayed  to  change  his  dress  and  eat  a  hurried  breakfast, 
when  he  repaired  to  the  Castle,  where  a  few  minutes  pre- 
viously the  secretary,  Mr.  Downie  Meek,  had  arrived  from 
his  lodge  in  the  Park. 

"Safe  once  more.  Meek,"  said  he,  entering  the  official 
chamber,  where,  immersed  in  printed  returns,  petitions,  and 
remonstrances,  sat  the  busy  secretary. 

"Ah,  Linton!  you  are  the  bien  venu.  We  are  to  have 
another  heat  for  the  race,  though  I  own  it  scarcely  looks 
promising." 

"  Particularly  as  you  are  going  to  carry  weight,"  said 
Linton,  laughing.  "It's  true,  I  suppose,  that  the  Irish 
party  have  joined  you?" 

"  There  was  no  help  for  it,"  said  the  secretary,  with  a 
despondent  gesture  of  the  eyebrows;  "we  had  no  alter- 
native save  accepting  the  greasy  voices,  or  go  out.  Some 
deemed  the  former  the  better  course,  but  others  remembered 
the  story  of  the  Brahmin,  who  engaged  to  teach  the  ass  to 
speak  in  ten  years,  or  else  forfeit  his  own  head." 

"  And  perfectly  right,"  interrupted  Linton.  "  The  Brah- 
min had  only  three  chances  in  his  favor.     Now,  your  king 


SCANNING  THE  POLITICAL  HORIZON.  199 

may  die  too,  and  you  have  any  number  of  asses  to  be  got 
rid  of." 

"  Let  us  be  serious,  Tom.  What  are  our  prospects  at  a 
general  election?  Are  the  landed  gentry  growing  afraid 
of  the  O'Gorman  party,  or  are  they  still  hanging  back, 
resentful  of  Peel's  desertion?" 

*'  They  are  very  conservative,  —  that  is,  they  want  to  keep 
their  properties  and  pay  the  least  possible  taxation.  Be 
cautious,  however,  and  you  have  them  all  your  own.  The 
Irish  party  being  now  with  j^ou,  begin  by  some  marked 
favor  to  the  Protestant  Church.  Hear  me  out.  This  will 
alarm  the  Romanists,  and  cause  a  kind  of  split  amongst 
them.  Such  as  have,  or  expect  to  have  place,  will  stand  by 
you ;  the  others  will  show  fight.  You  have  then  an  op- 
portunity of  proclaiming  yourselves  a  strong  Protestant 
Cabinet,  and  the  ultras,  who  hate  Peel,  will  at  least  affect  to 
believe  you.  While  the  country  is  thus  agitated,  go  to  the 
elections.  Your  friends,  amid  so  many  unsettled  opinions, 
cannot  be  expected  to  take  pledges,  or,  better  still,  they 
cannot  accept  any,  subject  to  various  contingencies  never  to 
arise." 

"  I  am  sorely  afraid  of  this  splitting  up  the  forces,"  said 
Meek,  doubtfully. 

"It's  your  true  game,  depend  upon  it,"  said  Linton. 
"These  Irish  allies  are  unwieldy  —  when  numerous.  I  re- 
member once  calling  on  Tom  Scott,  the  trainer,  one  day, 
and  while  we  went  through  the  stables  I  could  not  help 
remarking  the  fine  family  of  boys  he  had.  '  Yes,  sh*,' 
said  Tom,  modestly,  '  they  're  good-looking  chaps,  and  smart 
ones.     God  Almighty  keep  'em  little,  sir! '  " 

"Ah,  very  true,"  sighed  Meek;  "God  Almighty  keep 
'em  little!" 

"Then,"  resumed  Linton,  "you  have  never  played  out 
that  golden  game  of  Irish  legislation,  which  consists  in 
enacting  a  law,  and  always  ruling  against  it.  Decide  for 
the  education  system,  but  promote  the  men  who  oppose 
it.  Condemn  the  public  conduct  of  certain  parties,  and 
then  let  them  figure  as  baronets,  or  lieutenants  of  counties, 
in  the  next  '  Gazette,'  and,  to  crown  all,  seek  out  every 
now  and  then  some  red-hot  supporter  of  Government,  and 


200  KOLAND  CASHEL. 

degrade  him  from  the  bench  of  magistrates  for  malad- 
ministration !  This,  which  in  England  would  seem  rather 
chaotic  legislation,  will  to  Irish  intelligence  smack  like  even- 
handed  justice." 

"  We  have  a  bad  press,"  said  Meek,  peevishly. 

"No  matter,  it  has  the  less  influence.  Believe  me,  it 
will  be  an  evil  day  for  you  Downing  Street  gentlemen 
when  Ireland  possesses  a  really  able  and  independent  press, 
—  when,  avoiding  topics  of  mere  irritating  tendency,  men 
address  themselves  to  the  actual  wants  of  the  country,  ex- 
emplifying, as  they  disclose  them,  the  inaptitude  and  folly 
of  English  legislation.  Don't  wait  for  that  day.  Meek. 
In  all  likelihood  it  is  distant  enough,  but  in  any  case  don't 
hasten  its  coming  by  your  prayers.'* 

"You  mustn't  broach  these  doctrimes  out  of  doors, 
Tom,"  said  Meek,  in  a  soft,  caressing  tone;  "there  is  a 
horrid  cant  getting  up  just  now  against  English  rule,  and  in 
favor  of  native  manufactures." 

"  Which  be  they.  Meek?  I  never  heard  of  them.  May- 
nooth  is  the  only  factory  I  know  of  in  the  land,  and  a 
brisk  trade  it  has,  home  and  colonial." 

"You  know  as  well  as  any  man  the  benefits  we  have 
conferred  on  this  country." 

"  Yes,  it  demands  no  great  tax  on  inemory  to  repeat  them. 
You  found  a  starving  peasantry  of  a  couple  of  millions,  and, 
being  unable  or  incompetent  to  aid  them,  you  ruined  the 
gentry  to  keep  them  company.  You  saw  a  mangy,  miserable 
dog  with  famine  in  his  flank  and  death  in  his  eye,  and, 
answering  his  appeal  to  your  compassion,  you  cut  an  inch  off 
his  tail  and  told  him  to  eat  it." 

"You  are  too  bad,  Tom  —  a  great  deal  too  bad.  What 
are  you  looking  for?" 

"  Nothing  at  present,"  was  the  cool  reply. 

"  What  in  prospective,  then?  " 

"  I  should  like  to  be  the  Secretary  for  Ireland,  Meek, 
whenever  they  shelve  you  among  the  other  unredeemed 
pledges  in  that  pawn-oflfice,  the  Board  of  Trade." 

Meek  affected  a  laugh,  but  not  over  successfully,  while  to 
turn  the  conversation,  he  said,  ^^  A  propos  to  your  friend 
Cashel,  I  have  not  been  able  to  show  him  any  attentions,  so 


SCANNING  THE   POLITICAL  HORIZON.  201 

occupied  have  I  been  with  one  thing  and  another.  Let  us 
make  a  dinner  for  him." 

"No,  no,  he  doesn't  care  for  such  things.  Come  and 
join  his  house-warming  on  the  Shannon ;  that  will  be  far 
better." 

"I  mean  it,  but  I  should  like  also  to  see  him  here.  He 
knows  the  Kilgoffs,  doesn't  he?" 

"  Slightly.  By  the  way,  what  are  you  going  to  do  with 
my  Lord?  He  wants,  like  Sancho,  to  be  governor  of  an 
island." 

"  What  an  old  bore  !   without  brains,  fortune,  or  influence." 

"  He  has  a  very  pretty  wife,  Meek.  Don't  you  think  the 
Foreign  Office  would  recognize  that  claim?" 

"  So  they  send  him  out  of  this,  I  am  content.  But  to 
return  to  what  we  were  talking  about.  Shall  we  say  Friday  ? 
or  will  Saturday  suit  you?  and  we'll  make  up  a  small 
party." 

"  I  fear  not.  I  mean  to  leave  the  town  by  the  end  of 
the  week." 

"Not  for  any  time?" 

"  A  few  days  only,  and  then  I  shall  be  at  your  orders. 
Meanwhile,  leave  Cashel  to  himself;  he  has  got  some  sus- 
picions —  Heaven  knows  whence  or  how  —  that  his  borough 
influence  makes  him  a  very  important  card  just  now  ;  there- 
fore don't  notice  him,  starve  him  out,  and  you  '11  have  him 
come  forth  with  a  white  flag  one  of  these  days.  I  know  him 
well,  and  the  chances  are  that,  if  he  were  to  attribute  any  of 
your  civilities  to  the  score  of  your  calculation  respecting  his 
political  influence,  he  would  at  once  become  your  most  deter- 
mined opponent." 

"  But  his  borough  —  " 

"Let  him  represent  it  himself,  Meek,  and  it's  the  next 
best  thing  to  disfranchisement." 

"  He  would  not  be  likely  to  accept  any  advice  from  us?  " 
asked  Meek,  half  timidly. 

"  To  a  certainty  he  would  not,  although  proffered  in  youi 
own  most  insmuating  manner.  Come,  Meek,  no  nonsense ; 
you  must  look  out  for  a  seat  for  your  protege^  Clare  Jones, 
elsewhere;  though  I  tell  you  frankly  he  is  not  worth  the 
trouble." 


202  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"I  declare  you  are  all  wrong,  Linton —  quite  wrong;  1 
was  thinking  whether  from  motives  of  delicacy  you  would 
not  like  to  press  your  own  claim,  which  we  might,  with  so 
much  propriety." 

''Thanks,"  said  Linton;  while  a  sly  twinkle  of  his  eye 
showed  that  he  did  not  care  to  disguise  the  spirit  of  mistrust 
with  which  he  heard  the  speech.  "Thanks;  you  are  too 
generous,  and  I  am  too  modest,  so  let  us  not  think  more  of 
the  matter." 

"  What  is  Cashel's  real  fortune?  "  said  Meek,  not  sorry  to 
turn  the  conversation  into  a  less  dangerous  channel;  "one 
hears  so  many  absurd  and  extravagant  reports,  it  is  hard  to 
know  what  to  believe." 

"  Kenny  feck  calls  it  fourteen  thousand  a  year  above  all 
charges  and  cost  of  collection." 

"  And  your  own  opinion?  " 

Linton  shrugged  his  shoulders  carelessly,  and  said, 
"  There  or  thereabouts.  I  fancy  that  his  ready  money  has 
been  greatly  overrated.  But  why  do  you  ask  ?  Your  people 
would  n't  give  him  a  peerage,  would  they  ?  " 

"  Not  now,  of  course,"  said  Meek,  hesitating, 

"  Nor  at  any  time,  I  trust,"  said  Linton,  authoritatively. 
"  The  man  does  not  know  how  to  behave  as  a  plain  country 
gentleman ;  why  increase  his  embarrassments  by  making 
him  a  Lord?  Besides,  you  should  take  care  in  these  new 
creations  who  are  your  peeresses,  or  one  of  these  days  you  '11 
have  old  Kennyfeck  fancying  that  he  is  a  noble  himself." 

"  There  is  no  danger  to  be  apprehended  in  that  quarter?  " 
asked  Meek,  with  some  trepidation  of  manner. 

"Yes,  but  there  is,  though,  and  very  considerable,  too. 
He  has  been  living  in  the  house  with  those  girls,  —  clever  and 
shrewd  girls,  too.  He  is  more  at  his  ease  there  than  else- 
where. They  listen  patiently  to  his  tiresome  prairie  stories, 
and  are  indulgent  to  all  his  little  '  escapades  '  —  as  a  '  ran- 
chero ; '  in  a  word,  he  is  a  hero  there,  and  never  leaves  the 
threshold  without  losing  some  of  the  charms  of  the  illusion." 

"And  you  saw  all  this?" 

"Yes." 

"And  suffered  it?" 

"Yes.     What  would  you  have  me  do?     Had  there  been 


SCANNING  THE  POLITICAL  HORIZON.  203 

only  one  girl  in  the  case  —  I  might  have  married  her.  But 
it  is  only  in  botany,  or  the  bay  of  that  name,  that  the 
English  permit  polygamy." 

"I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  this,"  said  Meek,  gravely. 

*'I  am  very  sorry  to  have  it  to  tell,  Meek,"  said  the 
other. 

"He  might  marry  so  well!  "  muttered  Meek,  half  in 
soliloquy. 

"To  be  sure  he  might;  and  in  good  hands  —  I  mean  in 
those  of  a  man  who  sees  his  way  in  life  —  cut  a  very  fair 
figure,  too.  But  it  won't  do  to  appear  in  London  with  a 
second  or  third  rate  woman,  whose  only  recommendation  is 
the  prettiness  that  has  fascinated  '  Castle  balls  '  in  Dublin." 

"Let  us  talk  over  this  again,  Linton,"  said  Meek,  arran- 
ging his  papers,  and  affecting  to  be  busied. 

"With  all  my  heart;  indeed,  it  was  a  subject  I  intended 
to  speak  to  you  about.  I  have  a  little  theory  thereanent 
myself." 

"Have  you,  indeed?"  said  Meek,  looking  up  with 
animation. 

"Yes,  but  it  needs  your  counsel  —  perhaps  something 
more,  I  should  say  —  but  another  time  —  good-bye,  good- 
bye." And  without  waiting  to  say  or  hear  more,  Linton 
lounged  out  of  the  room,  leaving  the  secretary,  thoughtful 
and  serious,  behind  him. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

*' UNDER   THE    GREEN- WOOD    TREE." 

Nor  lives  the  heart  so  cold  and  dark 
But  in  its  depths  some  lingering  spark 
Of  love  is  cherished  there  ! 

The  Outlaw. 

When  Tom  Linton  parted  with  Mr.  Meek  he  repaired  to 
the  club  in  Kildare  Street  to  listen  to  the  gossip  on  the 
rumored  dissolution  of  Parliament,  and  pick  up  what  he 
could  of  the  prevailing  tone  among  the  country  gentry. 

His  appearance  was  eagerly  hailed  by  many,  who  regarded 
him  as  generally  well  informed  on  all  the  changes  and  turns 
of  party  warfare;  but,  as  he  professed  the  most  complete 
ignorance  of  everything,  and  seemed  to  devour  with  greedy 
curiosity  the  most  commonplace  announcements,  he  was 
speedily  deserted  and  suffered  to  pursue  his  work  of  inquiry 
perfectly  unmolested.  Not  that  indeed  there  was  much  to 
learn ;  the  tone  of  banter  and  raillery  with  which,  from  want 
of  all  real  political  influence,  men  in  Ireland  accustom 
themselves  to  discuss  grave  questions,  concealing  their  real 
sentiments,  or  investing  them  with  a  ludicrous  exaggera- 
tion, oftentimes  foiled  even  the  shrewd  perception  of  Tom 
Linton. 

He  did,  however,  learn  so  much  as  showed  him,  that  all 
the  ordinary  landmarks  of  party  being  lost,  men  were  be- 
ginning to  find  themselves  at  liberty  to  adopt  any  leadership 
which  pleased  them,  without  suffering  the  stain  of  desertion. 
They  thought  themselves  betrayed  by  each  of  the  great 
political  chiefs  in  turn,  and  began  to  fancy  that  the  best 
course  for  them  in  future  would  be  to  make  specific  terms 
for  any  support  they  should  accord.  Suggestions  to  this 
end  thrown  out  in  all  the  bantering  gayety  of  Irish  manner 


"UNDER  THE  GREEN-WOOD  TREE."  205 

might  mean  anything,  or  nothing,  and  so  Linton  well  knew, 
as  he  listened  to  them. 

He  had  taken  his  place  at  a  whist-table,  that  he  might, 
while  seemingly  preoccupied,  hear  what  was  said  around 
him,  and  although  no  error  of  play,  nor  a  single  mistake  in 
the  game,  marked  the  different  direction  of  his  attention, 
he  contrived  to  learn  much  of  the  opinion  prevalent  in 
certain   circles. 

"That  is  the  luckiest  fellow  in  Europe,"  said  one  of 
his  late  antagonists;  "as  usual  he  rises  the  only  winner." 

"You  can  scarcely  call  it  luck,"  said  another;  "he  is  a 
first-rate  player,  and  always  so  cool." 

Meanwhile,  Linton,  mounting  his  horse,  rode  slowly 
along  the  streets  till  he  arrived  at  Bilton's  Hotel,  where  a 
handsome  britzska  was  standing,  whose  large  up-standing 
horses  and  richly-mounted  harnessing  gave  token  of  London 
rather  than  of  Dublin  taste. 

"Is  her  Ladyship  going  out,  Halpin?"  said  he  to  the 
footman. 

"Her  Ladyship  ordered  the  carriage  for  four  precisely, 
sir." 

Linton  mused  for  a  second  or  two,  and  then  asked  if 
Lord  Kilgoff  were  at  home,  and  not  waiting  for  a  reply, 
passed  on. 

No  sooner,  however,  had  he  reached  the  landing-place, 
and  was  beyond  the  observation  of  the  servant,  than  he 
halted  and  appeared  to  reflect.  At  last,  as  if  having  made 
his  resolve,  he  turned  to  descend  the  stairs,  when  the 
drawing-room  door  opened  and  Lord  Kilgoff  appeared. 

"The  very  man  I  wanted.  Linton,  come  here,"  cried  he, 
re-entering  the  room. 

"I  was  just  on  my  way  to  you,  my  Lord,"  said  Linton, 
with  well-affected  eagerness. 

"Are  they  out,  Linton,  are  they  'out'?"  said  he,  iu 
breathless   impatience. 

"No,  my  Lord.  I've  seen  Meek;  they're  safe  for  the 
present.  A  coalition  has  been  formed  with  O'Morgan  and 
his  party,  which  secures  a  working  majority  of  fort3'^-five  oi 
fifty." 

"This  is  certain,  Linton;  may  I  rely  upon  it?  " 


206  nOLAND  CASHEL. 

"You  may,  my  Lord,  with  confidence." 

"Then  I  suppose  the  moment  has  come  when  my  adhesion 
would  be  most  well-timed.  It's  a  grave  question,  Tom; 
everything  depends  on  it.  If  I  join  them  and  they  go 
out  —  " 

"Why,  your  Lordship  goes  out  too,  without  ever  having 
the  satisfaction  of  being  *  in.'  " 

"Not  if  they  gave  me  the  mission  to  Florence,  Tom. 
They  never  remove  the  smaller  legations  in  any  change  of 
parties." 

"But  you  could  not  help  resigning,  my  Lord;  you  should 
follow  your  friends,"  said  Linton,  with  an  assumed  air 
of  high  principle. 

"Not  a  bit  of  it;  I  'd  hold  on.  I  see  no  reason  whatever 
for  such  a  course.  I  have  made  a  rough  draft  of  a  letter, 
which  Hindley  should  show  to  Peel.  See  here,  this  is  th , 
important  passage.  I  presuppose  that  I  had  already  given 
Hindley  my  resignation  to  hand  in  to  Aberdeen,  but  that 
yielding  to  his  arguments,  who  refuses  to  deliver  it,  I  have 
reconsidered  the  matter.  Now,  listen:  '  You  say  that  my 
functions  are  not  of  a  nature  to  admit  any  line  of  partisan- 
ship, and  that  a  man  of  honorable  views  can  serve  his 
country  under  a  Whig  or  Tory  administration,  irrespective 
of  his  own  preference  for  one  or  the  other.  I  feel  this 
to  be  true.  I  know  that,  in  my  own  official  career,  I  have 
always  forgotten  the  peculiar  politics  of  my  masters;  but 
another  question  arises,  —  how  shall  I  be  judged  by  others  ? 
for  while  I  confess  to  you  that  I  entertain  for  Peel's 
capacity  a  respect  I  have  never  been  able  to  feel  for  the 
Whig  leaders,  yet  family  prejudices,  connections,  a  hundred 
minor  circumstances,  some  purely  accidental,  threw  me 
among  the  ranks  of  that  party,  and  a  sense  of  consistency 
kept  me  where  very  probably  unbiassed  judgment  had 
never  suffered  me  to  remain. '  " 

"Amazingly  good!  very  well  done,  indeed !  "  said  Linton, 
in  whose  dubious  smile  younger  eyes  than  Lord  Kilgoff's 
might  have  read  the  most  insolent  expression  of  contempt; 
not,  indeed,  at  the  hypocrisy,  but  at  the  poor  attempt  to 
give  it  color.  "There  could  be  no  thought  of  removing  a 
man  with  such  sentiments." 


"UNDER  THE  GREEN-WOOD  TREE."  207 

**I  think  not,  Linton.  It  would  be  a  gross  and  flagrant 
case  of  oflflcial  tyranny  to  do  so,  —  a  case  for  inquiry  in  the 
House,  —  a  motion  to  produce  the  correspondence  —  " 

"Better  not,  my  Lord,"  said  Linton,  dryly;  "that  is  an 
admirable  letter  addressed  to  your  friend,  Lord  Hindley; 
but  in  a  blue  book  it  won't  read  so  well.  Take  my  advice: 
hold  on  if  you  can,  go  if  you  must,  but  don't  ask  questions, 
at  all  events." 

"Perhaps  you  are  right,  Tom,"  said  Kilgoff,  musing. 

"Now  for  another  point,  my  Lord;  this  visit  to  Mr. 
Cashel  — " 

"I  've  declined  it,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff,  reddening,  and 
with  a  look  of  extreme  irritation.  "The  note  is  there  sealed 
on  the  table,  and  shall  be  sent  within  an  hour." 

"I  am  not  at  liberty  to  ask  your  reasons,  my  Lord,"  said 
Linton,  gravely  and  respectfully,  "but  I  am  certainly  free 
to  state  my  own,  why  I  think  you  ought  most  positively  to 
go  there." 

"You  may,  certainly,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff,  rising  impa- 
tiently, and  pacing  the  room;  "I  shall  not  interrupt  you, 
but  I  shall  also  pledge  myself  not  to  let  them  influence  me 
in  the  slightest  degree.     My  mind  is  made  up,  sir." 

"Then  I  shall  speak  with  more  freedom,"  said  Linton, 
boldly;  "because,  having  no  pretension  to  change  your 
sentiments,  I  am  merely  desirous  to  record  my  own." 

Lord  Kilgoff  made  no  reply,  but  continued  his  walk, 
while  Linton  resumed:  — 

"Now  I  see  your  impatience,  my  Lord,  and  will  not 
trespass  on  it.  Here,  in  three  words,  is  my  case.  The 
borough  of  Drumkeeran  returns  a  member  to  Parliament; 
Hebden,  who  represents  it,  is  about  to  accept  the  Hundreds ; 
Cashel  owns  the  town." 

"And  if  he  does,  sir,  what  signifies  it  to  me?"  broke  in 
Lord  Kilgoff;  "I  have  not  the  slightest  influence  over  that 
gentleman's  opinions.  He  was  rude  enough  to  give  me  a 
very  flat  contradiction  in  the  only  discussion  we  ever  held 
together.  I  venture  to  assert,  from  what  I  have  seen 
of  him,  that  any  direction  of  his  course  in  Parliament 
would  be  totally  impossible.  He  is  self-willed,  obstinate, 
and  opinionated." 


208  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

^'Granted,  my  Lord;  he  is  the  very  calibre  to  run  through 
his  own,  and  ruin  any  other  man's  fortune." 

*' Well,  sir,  and  this  is  the  person  whose  services  you  think 
it  worth  my  while  obtaining  ?  " 

"I  never  said  so,  my  Lord." 

"What!  did  n't  I  hear  you  this  moment  —  " 

"No,  you  heard  me  say  that  the  borough  is  his,  but  you 
never  heard  me  say  that  he  ought  to  be  its  member.  For 
that  honor  I  had  another  in  my  eye,  —  one  over  whom  your 
Lordship's  influence  has  never  yet  been  doubted." 

"Whom  do  you  mean?  " 

"Tom  Linton,  my  Lord;  a  very  unworthy,  but  a  most 
devoted  partisan  of  your  Lordship's." 

"What!  Tom  —  you  in  Parliament?  " 

"Even  so,  my  Lord,"  said  Linton,  for  once  in  his  life  — 
perhaps,  the  only  time  — that  a  flash  of  angry  meaning 
colored  his  calm  features.  "I  am  sorry  that  the  notion 
should  so  palpably  wake  your  Lordship's  amazement." 

*'No  —  no  —  no!  I  did  n't  mean  that.  I  was  only  sur- 
prised. In  fact,  you  took  me  unawares  —  we  were  talking 
of  Cashel." 

"Precisely,  my  Lord;  we  were  discussing  the  probable 
career  of  a  person  so  eminently  gifted  with  statesmanlike 
qualities;  then,  how  could  I  possibly  hope  for  patience 
when  introducing  to  your  notice  abilities  so  humble  as 
my  own  ? " 

"But  is  it  possible  —  is  this  practicable,  Linton?" 

"With  your  assistance  it  is  certain.  The  influence  of 
your  Lordship's  rank  would  give  such  weight  to  your  opin- 
ions, that  if  you  were  only  to  say  to  him,  'Send  Linton  into 
Parliament  as  your  member,'  the  thing  is  done." 

"I  have  my  doubts." 

"I  have  none  whatever  —  I  know  the  man  well.  He  is 
dying  to  conform  to  anything  that  he  supposes  to  be  the 
discipline  of  his  class.  Tell  him  he  ought,  and  he  never 
resists." 

"I  have  resolved  on  not  paying  this  visit,"  said  Kilgofif, 
after  a  brief  pause;  "reasons  of  suflScient  weight  deter- 
mined me." 

"Oh,  my  Lord,  pardon  the  freedom,  but  I  must  say  that 


"UNDER  THE   GREEN- WOOD  TREE."  209 

they  had  need  be  stroDg  reasons  to  weigh  against  all  the 
advantages  I  can  show  from  the  opposite  course." 

''They  are,  sir,  very  strong  reasons,  nor  do  I  deem  it 
necessary  to  advert  to  them  again;  enough  that  I  esteem 
them  sufficient." 

"Of  course,  my  Lord,  I  never  dreamed  of  calling  them 
in  question;  they  must  needs  be  cogent  arguments  which 
counterpoise  the  opposite  scale  —  a  high  diplomatic  career 
—  a  representative  peerage  —  this  there  could  be  no 
doubt  of." 

"How  do  you  mean?"  broke  in  Kilgoff,  abruptly. 

"Simply  that  this  young  man  becomes  your  trump  card, 
if  you  only  please  to  take  him  up.  As  yet  he  has  resisted 
the  advances  made  by  Downie  Meek  and  his  set,  because  of 
my  watchfulness ;  but  sooner  or  later  some  party  will  catch 
him,  and  when  one  thinks  how  few  men  with  a  large  unen- 
cumbered fortune  we  possess  here,  with  a  great  county 
interest,  two  boroughs,  for  he  owns  Knockgarvan  as  well, 
the  prize  is  really  worth  having,  particularly  as  it  only 
needs  the  stretching  out  the  hand  to  take." 

Lord  Kilgoff  mused  and  seemed  to  ponder  over  the 
words.  He  entertained  small  doubts  of  his  "friend  "  Lin- 
ton's capacity;  but  he  had  very  considerable  suspicions  of 
his  principles,  and  it  is  a  strange  fact  that  people  willing 
to  commit  very  gross  breaches  of  fair  dealing  themselves  are 
exceedingly  scrupulous  respecting  the  fair  fame  of  their 
associates  in  iniquity,  so  admirably  accommodating  is  a 
worldly  conscience! 

"Well,  sir,"  said  he,  at  length,  "the  price  —  name  the 
price.  What  are  we  to  pay  for  the  article?  —  that  is  the 
question." 

"I  have  said,  my  Lord,  it  is  to  be  had  for  asking.  Your 
Lordship  has  only  to  take  the  territory,  as  our  naval  men  do 
the  chance  islands  they  meet  with  in  the  Southern  Pacific. 
Land  and  plant  your  flag  —  voila  tout !  " 

"But  you  have  heard  me  obsei*ve  already,"  said  he,  in  a 
querulous  tone,  "that  I  dislike  the  prospect  of  this  visit  — 
that  in  fact  it  would  be  exceedingly  disagreeable  to  me." 

"Then  I  have  nothing  more  to  say,  my  Lord,"  said  Lin- 
ton, coolly,  while  he  took  up  his  hat  and  gloves.     "I  can 

VOL.   I.  — U 


210  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

only  congratulate  you  on  the  excellence  of  your  j^olitical 
prospects,  which  can  dispense  with  a  strong  alliance  to  be 
had  so  easily." 

"Our  measures  of  value  are  very  different,  Mr.  Linton," 
said  Lord  Kilgoff,  proudly.  "Still,  to  prove  that  this  is 
no  caprice  on  my  part,"  —  here  he  stopped  abruptly,  while 
his  heightened  color  showed  the  degree  of  embarrassment  he 
labored  under, — "to  show  you  that  I  have  —  in  order  to 
explain  my  motives  —  "  Here  he  took  a  cautious  glance 
around  the  room,  walked  to  the  door,  opened  and  shut  it 
again,  and  then  drawing  his  arm  within  Linton's,  led  him 
towards  a  window.  For  a  second  or  two  he  seemed  unde- 
cided, and  at  last,  by  a  great  effort,  he  whispered  a  few 
words  in  Linton's  ear. 

Had  any  third  party  been  there  to  watch  the  effect  of  the 
whispered  confidence,  he  might  easily  have  read  in  the 
speaking  brilliancy  of  Linton's  eyes,  and  in  his  assured 
look,  that  it  was  of  a  nature  to  give  him  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure. But  scarce  had  his  Lordship  done  speaking,  when 
these  signs  of  pleasure  gave  way  to  a  cold,  almost  stern  air 
of  morality,  and  he  said,  "But  surely,  my  Lord,  it  were  far 
better  to  leave  her  Ladyship  to  deal  with  such  insolent 
pretension  —  " 

"Hush,  not  so  loud;  speak  lower.  So  I  should,  Linton, 
but  women  never  will  see  anything  in  these  airs  of  puppy- 
ism. They  persist  in  thinking,  or  saying,  at  least,  that 
they  are  mere  modern  fashionable  manners,  and  this  endur- 
ance on  their  part  gives  encouragement.  And  then,  when 
there  happens  to  be  some  disparity  of  years  —  Lady  Kilgoff 
is  my  junior  —  the  censorious  world  seizes  on  the  shadow  of 
a  scandal;  in  fact,  sir,  I  will  not  consent  to  afford  matter 
for  newspaper  asterisks  or  figurative  description." 

"Your  Lordship  never  had  a  better  opportunity  of  giving 
open  defiance  to  both.  These  airs  of  Cashel  are,  as  you 
remark,  mere  puppyism,  assumed  to  get  credit  for  a  certain 
fashionable  character  for  levity.  To  avoid  him  would  be 
to  acknowledge  that  there  was  danger  in  his  society.  I 
don't  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  he  would  assert  as  much,  but 
most  assuredly  the  world  would  for  him.  I  think  I  hear 
the   ready  comments  on  your  absence:     *  Were    not  the 


"UNDER  THE   GREEN- WOOD  TREE."  211 

Kilgoffs  expected  here  ?  '  '  Oh,  they  were  invited,  but  Lord 
Kilgofif  was  afraid  to  venture.  Cashel  had  been  paying 
attentions. '  In  a  word,  every  species  of  impertinence  that 
malevolence  and  envy  can  fancy  would  be  fabricated. 
Your  Lordship  knows  the  world  far  better  than  I  do;  and 
knows,  besides,  the  heavy  price  a  man  pays  for  being  the 
possessor  of  a  high  capacity  and  a  handsome  wife:  these 
are  two  insults  that  the  less  fortunate  in  life  never  do,  or 
never  can  forgive." 

"Well,  what  is  it  you  counsel?  " 

"To  meet  these  calumnies  in  the  face;  small  slanders, 
like  weak  fires,  are  to  be  trampled  out;  to  tamper  with 
such,  is  to  fan  the  flame  which  at  last  will  scorch  you. 
Besides,  to  take  another  view  of  the  matter:  her  Ladyship 
is  young,  and  has  been  much  admired ;  how  will  she  accept 
this  seclusion?  I  don't  speak  of  the  present  case;  besides, 
I  suppose  that  this  country  visit  would  bore  her  beyond 
measure.  But  how  will  she  regard  it  in  other  instances? 
Is  it  not  an  implied  fear  on  your  Lordship's  part?  you, 
who  have  really  nothing  to  dread  in  competition  with  any 
man.  I  only  know,  if  I  were  in  your  place,  how  I  should 
actually  seize  the  very  opportunity  of  openly  flouting  such 
calumnious  rumor;  never  was  there  an  occasion  to  do  so  on 
cheaper  terms.     This  Roland  Cashel  is  an  underbred  boy." 

"There  is  a  great  deal  in  what  you  say,  Linton.  But  as 
jealousy  is  a  feeling  of  which  I  have  never  had  any  experi- 
ence, I  was  only  anxious  on  Lady  Kilgoff's  account,  that 
the  thoughtless  gayety  of  a  very  young  and  handsome 
woman  should  not  expose  her  to  the  sarcastic  insinuations 
of  an  impertinent  world.  She  is  gay  in  manner;  there  is 
an  air  of  lively  imagination  —  " 

"No  more  than  what  the  French  call  ^ amabilite,*  my 
Lord,  which,  like  the  famed  armor  of  Milan  is  not  the  less 
defensive  that  it  is  so  beautiful  in  all  its  details." 

"Well,  then,  I  '11  not  send  the  note,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff, 
as  he  took  up  the  letter,  and  tearing  it,  threw  the  fragments 
into  the  fire;  "of  course,  Linton,  this  conversation  is 
strictly  confidential  ?  " 

"Your  Lordship  has  never  found  me  unworthy  of  such  a 
trust." 


212  ROLAND   CA8HEL. 

*' Never;  nor,  I  must  say,  would  it  be  for  your  advan- 
tage to  become  so." 

Linton  bit  his  lip,  and  for  a  second  or  two  seemed  burn- 
ing to  make  a  rejoinder;  but  overcoming  the  temptation, 
assumed  his  careless  smile,  and  said,  — 

"I  leave  you,  my  Lord,  greatly  gratified  that  chance  led 
me  to  pay  this  visit.  I  sincerely  believe,  that  in  the  coun- 
sels I  have  offered,  I  have  at  least  been  able  to  be  of  service 
to  you." 

Lord  Kilgoff  presented  his  hand  in  acknowledgment 
of  the  speech,  but  it  was  accorded  with  an  air  which 
seemed  to  say,  ''Well,  here  is  a  receipt  in  full  for  your 
devotedness." 

Linton  took  it  in  the  same  spirit,  and  left  the  room,  as 
though  deeply  impressed  with  all  the  honor  he  enjoyed  in 
such  a  noble  friendship. 

Hastening  down  the  stairs,  he  sprang  into  the  saddle  of 
his  horse,  and  cantering  up  the  street,  turned  towards  the 
road  which  leads  to  the  Phoenix  Park.  It  was  about  the 
hour  when  the  equipages  were  wont  to  throng  that  prome- 
nade, but  Linton  did  not  seem  desirous  of  joining  that  gay 
crowd,  for  he  took  a  cross-path  through  the  fields,  and 
after  a  sharp  ride  of  half-an-hour,  reached  a  low  paling 
which  skirted  the  park  on  the  eastward;  here,  at  a  small 
cottage  kept  by  one  of  the  rangers,  a  little  door  led  in, 
passing  through  which  he  found  himself  in  one  of  the  long 
green  alleys  of  that  beautiful  tract.  A  boy,  who  seemed  to 
be  ready  waiting,  now  took  his  horse,  and  Linton  entered 
the  wood  and  disappeared.  He  did  not  proceed  far,  how- 
ever, within  the  shady  copse,  for  after  going  a  short  distance 
he  perceived  a  carriage  standing  in  the  lane,  by  the  door  of 
which  a  footman  waited,  with  a  shawl  upon  his  arm.  The 
coachman,  with  his  whip  posed,  sat  talking  with  his  fellow- 
servant,  so  that  Linton  saw  that  the  carriage  had  no 
occupant. 

He  now  hastened  along,  and  speedily  emerging  at  a  little 
grassy  opening  of  the  wood,  came  in  sight  of  a  lady  walking 
at  some  distance  in  front.  The  fashionable  air  and  splen- 
did dress,  which  might  have  suited  the  most  brilliant  prome- 
nade of  a  great  city,  seemed  strange  in  such  a  lone,  unvisited 


"UNDER  THE   GREEN- WOOD  TREE." 


213 


spot.  Linton  lost  no  time  in  overtaking  her,  only  dimin- 
ishing his  speed  as  he  came  closer,  when,  with  his  hat  re- 
moved, and  in  an  attitude  of  the  most  humble  deference, 
he  said, — 

*'Pray  let  me  stand  excused  if  I  am  somewhat  behind  my 
time;  the  fault  was  not  my  own." 

"Oh,  say  nothing  about  it,"  said  a  soft  musical  voice, 
and  Lady  Kilgofif  turned  an  easy  smile  towards  him.    *'  '  Qui 


s'excuse,  s'accuse,'  says  the  French  proverb,  and  I  never 
dreamt  of  the  accusation.     Is  it  not  a  lovely  day  here?" 

Linton  was  too  much  piqued  to  answer  at  once,  but  recov- 
ering, he  said,  "Without  seeking  to  apologize  for  an 
absence  that  was  not  felt,  let  me  return  to  the  subject.  I 
assure  your  Ladyship  that  I  had  been  detained  by  Lord  Kil- 
goff,  who  was  pleased  to  bestow  a  more  than  ordinary  share 
of  his  confidence  upon  me,  and  even  condescended  to  ask 
my  counsel." 

"How  flattering!  Which  you  gave,  I  hope,  with  all  the 
sincerity  for  which  you  are  famous." 

Linton  tried  to  smile,  but  not  very  successfully. 


214  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"What,  then,  was  this  wonderful  mystery?  Not  the 
representative  peerage,  I  trust;  I'm  sure  I  hope  that 
question  is  at  rest  forever." 

"You  are  quite  safe  there,  —  he  never  mentioned  it." 

"Oh,  then  it  was  his  diplomatic  ambition,  — ain't  I  right? 
Ah,  I  knew  it;  I  knew  it.  How  very  silly,  or  how  very 
wicked  you  must  be,  Mr.  Linton,  to  encourage  these  day- 
dreams, —  you  who  have  not  the  excuse  of  hallucinations, 
who  read  the  book  of  life  as  it  is  written,  without  fanciful 
interpretations ! " 

"I  certainly  must  disclaim  your  paneygric.  I  had  one 
hallucination,  if  so  you  term  it,  —  it  was  that  you  wished, 
ardently  wished,  for  the  position  which  a  foreign  ^mission  ' 
bestows.  A  very  natural  wish,  I  freely  own,  in  one  so 
worthy  in  every  way  to  grace  and  adorn  it." 

"Well,  so  I  did  some  time  back,  but  I  've  changed  my 
mind.  I  don't  think  I  should  like  it;  I  have  been  reconsid- 
ering the  subject." 

"And  your  Ladyship  inclines  now  rather  to  seclusion  and 
rural  pleasures ;  how  fortunate  that  I  should  have  been  able- 
to  serve  your  interests  there  also." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  said  she,  with  a  stare,  while  a 
deep  scarlet  suffused  her  cheek. 

"I  alluded  to  a  country  visit  which  you  fancied  might  be 
made  so  agreeably,  but  which  his  Lordship  had  the  bad  taste 
to  regard  less  favorably." 

"Well,  sir,  you  did  not  presume  to  give  any  opinion?" 

"I  really  did.  I  had  all  the  hardihood  to  brave  Lord 
Kilgoff's  most  fixed  resolves.  You  were  aware  that  he 
declined  Mr.  Cashel's  invitation?  " 

She  nodded,  and  he  went  on,  — 

"Probably,  too,  knowing  the  reasons  for  that  refusal?" 

"No,  sir;  the  matter  was  indifferent  to  me,  so  I  never 
troubled  my  head  about  it.  My  Lord  said  we  should  n't 
go,  and  I  said,  '  Very  well,'  and  there  it  ended." 

Now,  although  this  was  spoken  with  a  most  admirably 
feigned  indifference,  Linton  was  too  shrewd  an  observer 
not  to  penetrate  the  deception. 

"I  am  doubly  unlucky  this  day,"  said  he,  at  last,  "first 
to  employ  all  my  artifices  to  plan  a  ministerial  success  to 


"UKDER  THE   GREEN-WOOD  TREE."  215 

which  you  are  actually  averse,   and  secondly,  to  carry  a 
point  to  which  you  are  indifferent." 

"Dare  I  ask,  if  the  question  be  not  an  indiscreet  one, 
what  peculiar  interest  Mr.  Linton  can  have,  either  in  our 
acceptance  or  refusal  of  this  invitation?  " 

"  Have  I  not  said  that  I  believed  you  desired  it?  "  replied 
he,  with  a  most  meaning  look, 

"Indeed  you  read  inclinations  most  skilfully,  only  that 
you  interpret  them  by  anticipation." 

"This  is  too  much,"  said  Linton,  in  a  voice  whose  pas- 
sionate earnestness  showed  that  all  dissimulation  was  at  an 
end,  "far  too  much!  The  genteel  comedy  that  we  play 
before  the  world,  madam,  might  be  laid  aside  for  a  few 
moments  here.  When  I  asked  for  this  interview,  and  you 
consented  to  give  it  —  " 

"It  was  on  the  express  stipulation  that  you  should  treat 
me  as  you  do  in  society,  sir,"  broke  she  in  —  "that  there 
should  be  no  attempt  to  fall  back  upon  an  intimacy  which 
can  never  be  resumed." 

"When  I  promised,  I  intended  to  have  kept  my  word, 
Laura,"  said  he,  in  deep  dejection;  "I  believed  I  could 
have  stifled  the  passion  that  consumes  me,  and  talked  to 
you  in  the  words  of  sincere,  devoted  friendship,  but  I 
cannot.  Old  memories  of  once  happiness,  brought  up  too 
vividly  by  seeing  you,  as  I  used  to  see  you,  when  in  many 
a  country  walk  we  sauntered  on,  dreaming  of  the  time 
when,  mine,  by  every  tie  of  right,  as  by  affection  —  " 

"How  you  requited  that  affection,  Linton!  "  said  she,  in 
a  tone  whose  deep  reproach  seemed  actually  to  stun  him. 
Then  suddenly  changing  to  an  air  of  disdainful  anger,  she 
continued:  "You  are  a  bold  man,  Linton.  I  thought  it 
would  be  too  much  for  even  your  hardihood  to  recur  to  a 
theme  so  full  of  humiliation  for  yourself;  but  I  know  your 
theory,  sir:  you  think  there  is  a  kind  of  heroism  in  exag- 
gerated baseness,  and  that  it  is  no  less  great  to  transcend 
men  in  crime  than  in  virtue.  You  dare  to  speak  of  an 
affection  that  you  betrayed  and  bartered  for  money." 

"  I  made  you  a  peeress,  madam.  When  you  were  Laura 
Gardiner,  you  could  n't  have  spoken  to  me  as  now  you 
speak." 


216  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'If  I  consented  to  the  vile  contract,  it  was  that,  when  1 
discovered  your  baseness,  any  refuge  was  preferable  to 
being  the  wife  of  one  like  you!  " 

"A  most  complimentary  assurance,  not  only  to  myself, 
but  his  Lordship,"  said  Linton,  with  an  insolent  smile. 

"Now,  hear  me,"  said  she,  not  noticing  the  taunt,  but 
speaking  with  a  voice  of  deep  collected  earnestness.  "  It 
is  in  vain  to  build  upon  time  or  perseverance  —  the  allies 
you  trust  so  deeply  —  to  renew  the  ties  broken  forever.  If 
I  had  no  other  higher  and  more  sustaining  motive,  my 
knowledge  of  you  would  be  enough  to  rescue  me  from  this 
danger.  I  know  you  well,  Linton.  You  have  often  told 
me  what  an  enemy  you  could  be.  This,  at  least,  I  believe 
of  all  that  you  have  ever  sworn !  I  have  a  full  faith,  too, 
in  your  ingenuity  and  skill;  and  yet  I  would  rather  brave 
both  —  ay,  both  hate  and  craft  —  than  trust  to  what  you  call 
your  honor." 

"  You  do  indeed  know  me  well,  Laura,"  said  he,  in  a  voice 
broken  and  faltering,  "or  you  never  had  dared  to  speak 
such  words  to  me.  There  is  not  one  breathing  could  have 
uttered  them  and  not  pay  the  penalty,  save  yourself.  I 
feel  in  my  inmost  heart  how  deeply  I  have  wronged  you, 
but  is  not  my  whole  life  an  atonement  for  the  wrong?  Am 
I  not  heartbroken  and  wretched,  without  a  hope  or  a  future? 
What  greater  punishment  did  any  one  ever  incur  than  to 
live  in  the  daily  sight  and  contemplation  of  a  bliss  that 
his  own  folly  or  madness  have  forever  denied  him;  and 
yet,  to  that  same  suffering  do  I  cling,  as  the  last  tie  that 
binds  me  to  existence.  To  see  you  in  the  world,  to  watch 
you,  to  mark  the  effect  your  grace  and  beauty  are  making 
on  all  around  you  —  how  every  fascination  calls  up  its 
tribute  of  admiration  —  how  with  each  day  some  new 
excellence  develops  itself,  till  you  seem  inexhaustible  in 
all  the  traits  of  graceful  womanhood,  this  has  been  the 
cherished  happiness  of  my  life!  It  was  to  this  end  I 
labored  to  induce  the  acceptance  of  that  invitation  that 
once  more,  beneath  the  same  roof,  I  should  see  you  for 
days  long.  Your  own  heart  must  confess  how  I  have  never 
before  the  world  forgotten  the  distance  that  separates  us. 
There  is,  then,  no  fear  that  I  should  resign  every  joy  that 


"UNDER  THE   GREEN-WOOD  TREE."  217 

yet  remains  to  me  for  any  momentary  indulgence  of  speak- 
ing to  you  as  my  heart  feels.  No,  no,  Laura,  you  have 
nothing  to  dread  either  from  my  hate  or  my  love." 

"To  what  end,  then,  was  it  that  you  asked  me  to  meet 
you  here  to-day?"  said  she,  in  a  voice  in  which  a  touch  of 
compassionate  sorrow  was  blended. 

"  Simply  to  entreat,  that  if  I  should  succeed  in  persuad- 
ing his  Lordship  to  accept  this  visit,  you  would  throw  no 
obstacle  in  the  way  on  your  side." 

"And  if  I  consent,  shall  I  have  no  cause  to  rue  my 
compliance?" 

"So  far  as  depends  on  me,  none,  on  my  honor! " 

It  had  been  better  for  Linton's  cause  that  he  had 
omitted  the  last  words,  at  least:  as  Laura  turned  away  her 
head,  a  curl  of  insolent  meaning  was  on  her  lip,  but  she 
did  not  speak,  and  they  now  walked  along,  side  by  side,  in 
silence. 

"You  will  go,  then?"  said  he,  at  last,  in  a  low  whisper. 

"Yes,"  said  she,  faintly. 

Linton  stole  a  glance  at  her  unperceived,  and  suddeniy 
the  sparkle  of  his  eyes  and  the  elation  of  his  whole  expres- 
sion showed  the  transport  of  pleasure  he  experienced. 

"Now  for  one  word  of  caution,"  said  Linton,  as,  drawing 
closer  to  her  side,  he  assumed  the  tone  of  sincere  friendship. 
"Lord  Kilgoff  has  just  revealed  to  me,  in  deep  confidence, 
that  he  has  been  much  offended  by  certain  attentions 
shown  to  you  by  this  Mr.  Cashel,  and  which  were  of  so 
marked  a  nature  that  he  was  almost  determined  never  to 
admit  his  intimacy  in  future.  Had  his  Lordship  known 
you  as  well  as  I  do,  he  might  have  spared  himself  this 
anxiety.  I  believe  such  savage  excellence  as  his  has 
few  attractions  for  you;  nor,  save  the  admiration  that  all 
must  yield  you,  has  the  youth  taste  or  feeling  to  appreciate 
your  excellence.  However,  'my  Lord'  is  jealous;  let  it  be 
your  care,  by  knowledge  of  the  fact,  not  to  incur  anything 
to  sustain  the  suspicion." 

"How  very  absurd  all  this  is!  Do  you  know  that  Mr. 
Cashel  did  not  condescend  to  pay  me  the  poor  compliment 
of  a  special  invitation  to  his  house,  but  asked  my  Lord  to 
come,  and  hoped  I  would  accompany  him;  just  as  people 


218  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

invite  their  humbler  acquaintances,  hoping  that  only  half 
the  request  may  be  accorded." 

"He  is  underbred  even  to  barbarism,"  said  Linton. 

"He  seems  a  most  good-natured  creature,  and  full  of 
generosity." 

"Overwealth  has  sometimes  that  air.  When  the  glass  is 
brimful,  none  but  the  steadi3st  hand  can  carry,  without 
spilling,  the  wine." 

"He  does  not  appear  even  to  make  the  effort.  They  tell 
me  he  has  squandered  some  thousands  already,  making 
presents  to  every  one  who  will  accept  them." 

"He  gave  me  this  cane,"  said  Linton,  superciliously, 
exhibiting  a  little  riding  cane,  which  he  had  taken  himself 
out  of  Cashel's  hand,  and  was  of  no  value  whatever.  "Not 
any  great  evidence  of  exaggerated  generosity,"  said  he. 
"As  to  his  house,  however,  I  trust  its  honors  may  be  well 
done;  he  has  given  me  carte  blanche^  and  I  must  only  try 
and  not  disgrace  my  prerogative." 

"How  very  late  it  is  —  nearly  seven,"  said  Lady  Kilgoff, 
looking  at  her  watch. 

"Shall  I  see  your  Ladyship  to  your  carriage?"  said 
Linton. 

"I  think  not,"  said  she,  blushing  slightly;  "as  I  left  it 
unaccompanied,  so  I  shall  return  to  it.     Good-bye." 

She  held  out  her  hand  as  she  spoke,  but  slightly  averted 
her  head,  so  that  Linton  could  not  mark  the  expression  of 
her  features.  As  it  was,  he  pressed  the  gloved  fingers  to 
his  lips,  but,  when  doing  so,  contrived  to  unclasp  her 
bracelet,  —  a  singularly  rich  one,  and  a  present  from  Lord 
Kilgofif  on  the  day  of  her  marriage.  This  he  let  fall  noise- 
lessly on  the  grass,  and  murmured,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Good- 
bye." 

Lady  Kilgoif,  hastily  wrapping  her  shawl  about  her,  left 
the  spot.  Linton  watched  her  till  he  had  seen  her  seated 
in  the  carriage,  and  continued  to  gaze  after  it,  as  it  drove 
rapidly  away,  and  so  intently  occupied  by  his  thoughts, 
that  he  did  not  notice  the  approach  of  a  horseman,  who 
came  up  at  a  walking  pace  behind  him. 

"Eh,  Tom!  "  cried  out  Lord  Charles  Frobisher,  "this  is 
flying  at  high  game !  " 


"UNDER  THE   GREEN-WOOD  TREE."  219 

"You  are  mistaken,  Charley,"  said  he,  in  some  confusion. 
"  This  '  meeting  under  the  green-wood  tree  '  was  nothing  less 
than  a  love  affair." 

"Oh,  hang  your  morality,  Mr.  Joseph;  it's  rather  good 
fun  to  see  the  '  insolent  beauty  '  of  the  season  capitulating." 

"Wrong  again,"  said  Linton,  affecting  a  laugh.  "Ever- 
ton  is  in  a  scrape,  and  his  wife  wants  me  to  get  him  out  of 
the  way  —  " 

"Nonsense,  man,  I  saw  the  carriage;  there  is  no  need  of 
mystifying  here.  Besides,  it 's  no  affair  of  mine  —  I'm  sure 
I  wish  it  were!  But  come,  what  are  the  odds  on  Hitchley's 
colt  —  are  seven  to  two  taken  ?  " 

"Don't  bet,"  said  Linton,  knowingly;  "there  is  some- 
thing '  wrong '  in  that  stable,  and  I  have  n't  found  out  the 
secret." 

"What  a  deep  fellow  you  are,  Tom." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind,  Charley.  If  I  were,  you  'd  never 
have  discovered  it.  Your  only  deep  fellow  is  he  that  the 
world  deems  shallow  —  your  light-hearted,  rattling  knave, 
whose  imputed  thoughtlessness  covers  every  breach  of 
faith,  and  makes  his  veriest  schemes  seem  purely  accident. 
But,  once  get  the  repute  of  being  a  clever  or  a  smart  fellow, 
and  success  is  tenfold  more  difficult.  The  world,  then,  only 
plays  with  you  as  one  does  with  a  sharper,  betting  small 
stakes,  and  keeping  a  steady  eye  on  the  cards.  Your  own 
sleepy  eye,  Charley,  your  languid,  careless  look,  are  a 
better  provision  than  most  men  give  their  younger 
children." 

Lord  Charles  lifted  his  long  eyelashes  lazilj^,  and,  for  a 
second,  something  like  a  sparkle  lit  up  his  cold,  dark  eye, 
but  it  was  gone  in  a  moment,  and  his  habitually  lethargic 
expression  once  more  returned.  "  You  heard  that  we  were 
nearly  '  out, '  I  suppose  ?  "  said  he,  after  a  pause. 

"Yes.  This  is  the  second  time  that  I  bought  Downie 
ISIeek's  carriage-horses  on  the  rumor  of  a  change  of 
administration." 

"  And  sold  them  back  again  at  double  the  price,  when  he 
found  that  the  ministry  were  safe !  " 

"To  be  sure;  wasn't  it  a  *  good  hedge  '  for  him  to  be 
Secretary  for  Ireland  at  the  cost  of  a  hundred  or  so  ?  " 


220  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

"You  '11  get  the  name  of  spreading  the  false  intelligence, 
Tom,  if  you  always  profit  so  much  by  it." 

"With  all  my  heart.  I  wish  sincerely  some  good-natured 
fellow  would  lay  to  my  charge  a  little  roguery  that  I  had  no 
share  in.  I  have  experienced  all  manner  and  shades  of  sen- 
sations, but  injured  innocence,  that  would  really  be  new  to 
me." 

"Well,"  sighed  Lord  Charles,  with  a  yawn,  "I  suppose 
we  have  only  a  short  time  before  us  here.  The  end  of  the 
session  will  scarcely  see  us  in  office." 

"About  that:  by  keeping  all  hands  at  the  pumps  we  may 
float  the  ship  into  harbor,  but  no  more." 

"And  what 's  to  become  of  us?  "  said  the  aide-de-camp^ 
with  a  deep  depression  in  his  accent. 

"The  usual  lot  of  a  crew  paid  off,"  cried  Linton,  laugh- 
ing; "look  out  for  a  new  craft  in  commission,  and  go  to  sea 
again.  As  for  you,  Charley,  you  can  either  marry  some- 
thing in  the  printed  calico  line,  with  a  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand,  or,  if  you  prefer  it,  exchange  into  a  light  cavalry 
corps  at  Suntanterabund." 

"And  you?"  said  Lord  Charles,  with  something  almost 
of  sternness. 

"I?  Oh,  as  for  me,  I  have  many  alternatives.  I  can 
remain  a  Whig,  and  demand  office  from  the  Tories  —  a 
claim  Peel  has  never  resisted;  I  can  turn  Repealer,  and 
be  pensioned  by  something  in  the  Colonies;  I  can  be  a 
waiter  on  Providence,  and  live  on  all  parties  by  turns.  In 
fact,  Charley,  there  never  was  a  better  age  for  your  '  adven- 
turer'  than  this  year  of  our  Lord  18 — .  All  the  geography 
of  party  has  been  erased,  and  it  is  open  to  every  man  to  lay 
down  new  territorial  limits." 

"  But  for  any  case  of  the  kind  you  should  have  a  seat  in 
Parliament." 

"So  I  mean  it,  my  boy.  I  intend  to  represent, — I'm 
sure  I  forget  the  name  of  my  constituency,  —  in  the  next 
assemblage  of  the  collective  wisdom." 

"How  do  you  manage  the  qualification?"  said  the  aide- 
de-camp^  slyly. 

"The  man  who  gives  the  borough  must  take  care  of 
that;  it's  no  affair  of  mine,"  said  Linton,  carelessly. 
"I  only  supply  the  politics," 


"UNDER  THE  GREEN-WOOD  TREE."  221 

"And  what  are  they  to  be?  " 

"  Cela  depend.  You  might  as  well  ask  me  what  dress  I  '11 
wear  in  the  changeable  climate  of  an  Irish  July." 

"Then  you  '11  take  no  pledges?  " 

"To  be  sure  I  will;  every  one  asked  of  me.  I  only  stip- 
ulate to  accompany  each  with  a  crotchet  of  my  own,  so 
that,  like  the  gentleman  who  emptied  his  snuff-box  over  the 
peas,  I  '11  leave  the  dish  uneatable  by  any  but  myself." 

"Well,  good-bye,  Tom,"  said  Lord  Charles,  laughing. 
"  If  you  only  be  as  loyal  in  love  as  you  promise  to  be  in 
politics,  our  fair  friend  is  scarcely  fortunate."  And  so 
saying,  he  cantered  slowly  away. 

"Poor  fellow!  "  said  Linton,  contemptuously,  "your  little 
bit  of  principle  haunts  you  like  a  superstition."  And  with 
this  reflection,  he  stepped  out  briskly  to  where  the  boy  was 
standing  with  his  horse. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Linton,  darlin',  only  sixpence!  and  I  here  this 
two  hours?"  said  the  ragged  urchin,  with  a  cunning  leer, 
half  roguery,  half  shame. 

"  And  where  could  you  have  earned  sixpence,  you  scoun- 
drel, in  that  time  ?  "  cried  Linton,  affecting  anger. 

"Faix,  I  'd  have  earned  half  a  crown  if  I  'd  got  up  on  the 
beast  and  rode  down  to  Bilton's,"  said  the  fellow,  grinning. 

"You'd  have  had  your  skull  cracked  with  this  cane,  the 
next  time  I  met  you,  for  your  pains,"  said  the  other,  really 
enraged,  while  he  chucked  a  shilling  at  him. 

"Success  to  your  honor,  —  all's  right,"  said  the  boy. 
And  touching  his  cap,  he  scampered  off  into  the  wood,  and 
disappeared. 

"You  shall  have  a  sea  voyage,  my  friend,"  said  Linton, 
looking  after  him;  "a  young  gentleman  with  such  powers 
of  observation  would  have  a  fine  opening  in  our  colonies." 
And  away  he  rode  towards  town,  his  brain  revolving  many 
a  complex  scheme  and  lucky  stratagem,  but  still  with 
ready  smile  acknowledging  each  salutation  of  his  friends, 
and  conveying  the  impression  of  being  one  whose  eas^ 
nature  was  unruffled  by  a  care. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE    DOMESTIC    DETECTIVE    CONSULTED. 

Of  "  sweet  fifteen  "  uo  mortal  e'er  afraid  is, 
Your  real  "  man  traps  "  are  old  maiden  ladies. 

The  Legacy. 

It  was  late  of  that  same  afternoon  ere  Cashel  awoke.  Mr. 
Phillis  had  twice  adventured  into  the  room  on  tiptoe,  and 
as  stealthily  retired,  and  was  now,  for  the  third  time,  about 
to  retreat,  when  Roland  called  him  back. 

"Beg  pardon,  sir;  but  Mrs.  Kennyfeck's  footman  has 
been  here  twice  for  the  answer  to  this  note." 

"Let  me  see  it,"  said  Cashel,  taking  a  highly-perfumed 
epistle,  whose  tinted  paper,  seal,  and  superscription  were 
all  in  the  perfection  of  epistolary  coquetry. 

Dear  Mr.  Cashel, — Mamma  desires  me  to  convey  her  re- 
proaches for  your  shocking  forgetfulness  of  yesterday,  when,  after 
promising  to  dine  here,  you  never  appeared.  She  will,  however, 
not  only  forgive  the  past,  but  be  grateful  for  the  present,  if  you  will 
come  to  us  to-day  at  seven. 

Believe  me,  very  truly  yours, 

Olivia  Kennyfeck. 

Simple  and  commonplace  as  the  words  were,  Cashel  read 
them  over  more  than  once. 

I  know  not  if  any  of  my  male  readers  can  corroborate 
me,  but  I  have  always  thought  there  is  some  mysterious 
attraction  in  even  the  most  every-day  epistle  of  a  young 
and  pretty  woman.  The  commonest  social  forms  assume  a 
different  meaning,  and  we  read  the  four  letters  which  spell 
"dear"  in  an  acceptation  very  remote  from  what  they 
inspire  when  written  by  one's  law  agent ;  and  then,  the  con- 


THE   DOMESTIC  DETECTIVE   CONSULTED.  223 

eluding  "  yours  truly,"  or  ''  faithfully  yours,"  or  better  again, 
*'  ever  yours,"  —  what  suggestive  little  words  they  are  !  how 
insinuating  in  their  portraiture  of  a  tie  which  possibly  might, 
but  does  not  actually,  bind  the  parties. 

If  my  readers  concur  not  in  these  sympathies,  I  have 
great  satisfaction  in  saying  that  Roland  Cashel  did.  He 
not  only  sat  gazing  at  the  few  lines,  but  he  looked  so  long 
at  them  as  to  half  believe  that  the  first  word  was  a  super- 
lative; then,  suddenly  rousing  himself  he  asked  the  hour. 
It  was  already  past  six.  He  had  only  time,  then,  for  a 
verbal,  "With  pleasure,"  and  to  dress  for  dinner. 

It  seemed  like  a  reproach  on  his  late  mode  of  living,  the 
pile  of  unopened  letters,  which  in  imposing  mass  Mr.  Phillis 
had  arrayed  on  his  master's  dressing-table.  They  con- 
tained specimens  of  everything  epistolary  which  falls  to 
the  lot  of  those  favored  children  of  fortune  who,  having 
"  much  to  give,"  are  great  favorites  with  the  world.  There 
were  dear  little  pressing  invitations  signed  by  the  lady  of 
the  house,  and  indited  in  all  the  caligraphy  of  the  gover- 
ness. There  were  begging  letters  from  clergymen  with 
large  families,  men  who  gave  so  "many  hostages  to  for- 
tune," that  they  actually  ruined  themselves  in  their  own 
"  recognizances."  Flatteries,  which,  if  not  written  on  tinted 
paper,  might  have  made  it  blush  to  bear  them,  mixed  up 
with  tradesmen's  assurances  of  fidelity  and  punctuality,  and 
bashful  apologies  for  the  indelicacy  of  any  allusion  to 
money. 

Oh,  it  is  a  very  sweet  world  this  of  ours,  and  amiable 
withal !  save  that  the  angelic  smile  it  bestows  on  one  part 
of  the  creation  has  a  sorry  counterpart  in  the  sardonic  grin 
with  which  it  regards  the  other.  Our  friend  Cashel  was 
in  the  former  category,  and  he  tossed  over  the  letters  care- 
lessly, rarely  breaking  a  seal,  and,  even  then,  satisfied  with 
a  mere  glance  at  the  contents,  or  the  name  of  the  writer, 
when  he  suddenly  caught  sight  of  a  large  square-shaped 
epistle,  marked  "  Sea-letter."  It  was  in  a  hand  he  well 
knew,  that  of  his  old  comrade  Enrique ;  and  burning  with 
anxiety  to  hear  of  him,  he  threw  himself  into  a  chair,  and 
broke  the  seal. 

The  very  first  words  which  met  his  eye  shocked  him. 


224  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"  St.  Kitt's,  Jamaica. 

"  Ay,  Roland,  even  so.  St.  Kitt's,  Jamaica !  heavily  ironed  in  a 
cell  at  the  top  of  a  strong  tower  over  the  sea,  with  an  armed  sentry 
at  my  door,  I  write  this  1  a  prisoner  fettered  and  chained,  —  I,  that 
could  not  brook  the  very  orders  of  discipline !  Well,  well,  it  is  only 
cowardice  to  repine.  Truth  is,  amigo,  I  've  had  no  luck  since  you 
left  us.  It  was  doubtless  yours  that  sustained  me  so  long,  and  when 
you  withdrew  from  the  firm,  I  became  bankrupt,  and  yet,  this  is 
pretty  much  what  we  used  once,  in  merry  mood,  to  predict  for  each 
other,  '  the  loop  and  the  leap.' 

"  How  shall  I  tell  you  so  briefly  as  neither  to  weary  you  to  read, 
nor  myself  to  write  it,  my  last  sad  misfortune?  I  say  the  last,  be- 
cause the  bad  luck  took  a  run  against  me.  First,  I  lost  everything  I 
possessed  at  play,  —  the  very  pistols  you  sent  me,  I  staked  and  lost. 
Worse  still,  Roland,  —  and  faith  I  don't  think  I  could  make  the  con- 
fession, if  a  few  hours,  or  a  few  days  more,  were  not  to  hide  my 
shame  in  a  felon's  grave,  —  I  played  the  jewels  you  sent  here  for 
Maritana.  She  refused  them  with  words  of  bitterness  and  anger. 
Partly  from  the  irritated  feeling  of  the  moment,  partly  from  the 
curse  of  a  gambler's  spirit,  —  the  hope  to  weary  out  the  malice  of 
fortune,  —  I  threw  them  on  the  monte-table.  Of  course  I  lost.  It 
was  soon  after  this  Barcelonetta  was  laid  in  ruin  by  a  shock  of 
earthquake,  the  greatest  ever  experienced  here.  The  '  Quadro  *  is  a 
mere  mass  of  chaotic  rubbish.  The  '  Puerta  Mayor,'  with  all  its 
statues,  is  ingulfed,  and  an  arm  of  the  sea  now  washes  up  and  over 
the  beautiful  gardens  where  the  Governor  gave  his  fete.  The  villa, 
too,  rent  from  roof  to  basement,  is  a  ruin ;  vast  yawning  gulfs  inter- 
sect the  parterres  everywhere  ;  the  fountains  are  dried  up ;  the  trees 
blasted  by  lightning ;  and  a  red-brown  surface  of  ashes  strewn  over 
the  beauteous  turf  where  we  used  to  stroll  by  moonlight.  The  old 
tree  that  sheltered  our  monte-table  stands  uninjured,  as  if  in  mockery 
over  our  disasters !  Maritafia's  hammock  was  slung  beneath  the 
branches,  and  there  she  lay,  careless  of  —  nay,  I  could  almost  say,  if 
the  words  did  not  seem  too  strange  for  truth,  actually  pleased  by  — 
the  dreadful  event.  I  went  to  take  leave  of  her ;  it  was  the  last 
night  we  were  to  spend  on  shore.  I  little  knew  it  was  to  be  the  last 
time  we  should  ever  meet.  Pedro  passed  the  night  among  the  ruins 
of  the  villa,  endeavoring  to  recover  papers  and  valuables  amid  that 
disastrous  mass.  Geizheimer  was  always  with  him,  and  as  Noronja 
and  the  rest  soon  fell  ofif  to  sleep,  wearied  by  a  day  of  great  fatigue, 
I  sat  alone  beside  her  hammock  till  day  was  breaking.  Oh,  would 
that  night  could  have  lasted  for  years,  so  sweetly  tranquil  were  the 
starlit  hours,  so  calm  and  yet  so  full  of  hopeful  promise.  Wliat 
brilliant  pictures  of  ambition  did  she,  that  young,  untaught  girl,  pre- 
sent to  my  eyes,  —  how  teach  me  to  long  for  a  cause  whose  rewards 


THE  DOMESTIC  DETECTIVE  CONSULTED.    225 

were  higher,  and  greater,  and  nobler  than  the  prizes  of  this  wa}'ward 
life.  I  would  have  spoken  of  my  affection,  my  deep-felt,  long- 
cherished  love,  but,  with  a  half-scornful  laugh,  she  stopped  me,  say- 
ing, 'Is  this  leafy  shade  so  like  a  fair  lady's  boudoir  that  you  can 
persuade  yourself  to  trifle  thus,  or  is  your  own  position  so  dazzling 
that  you  deem  the  offer  to  share  it  a  flattery  ? ' " 

**  I  'm  afraid,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Phillis,  here  obtruding  his 
head  into  the  room,  *'  that  you  '11  be  very  late.  It  is  already 
more  than  half -past  seven  o'clock." 

"So  it  is!"  exclaimed  Cashel,  starting  up,  while  he 
muttered  something  not  exceedingly  complimentary  to  his 
host's  engagement.  "Is  the  carriage  ready?"  And  with- 
out staying  to  hear  the  reply,  hurried  downstairs,  the  open 
letter  still  in  his  hand. 

Scarcely  seated  in  the  carriage,  Cashel  resumed  the  read- 
ing of  the  letter.  Eager  to  trace  the  circumstances  which 
led  to  his  friend's  captivity,  he  hastily  ran  his  eyes  over  the 
lines  till  he  came  to  the  following :  — 

"  There  could  be  no  doubt  of  it.  The  '  Esmeralda,'  our  noble 
frigate,  was  not  in  the  service  of  the  Republic,  but  by  some  infamous 
treaty  between  Pedro  and  Narochez,  the  minister,  was  permitted  to 
carry  the  flag  of  Columbia.  We  were  slavers,  buccaneers,  pirates,  — 
not  sailors  of  a  state.  When,  therefore,  the  British  war-brig 
'  Scorpion  '  sent  a  gun  across  our  bows,  with  an  order  to  lie  to,  and 
we  replied  by  showing  our  main-deck  ports  open,  and  our  long 
eighteens  all  ready,  the  challenge  could  not  be  mistaken.  We  were 
near  enough  to  hear  the  cheering,  and  it  seemed,  too,  they  heard 
ours  ;  we  wanted  but  you,  Koland,  among  us  to  have  made  our 
excitement  madness ! " 

The  carriage  drew  up  at  Kennyfeck's  door  as  Cashel  had 
read  thus  far,  and  in  a  state  of  mind  bordering  on  fever  he 
entered  the  hall  and  passed  up  the  stairs.  The  clock  struck 
eight  as  he  presented  himself  in  the  drawing-room,  where 
the  family  were  assembled,  the  num])er  increased  by  two 
strangers,  who  were  introduced  to  Roland  as  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck's sister,  Miss  O'Hara,  an  elderly  maiden  lady,  with  a 
light  brown  wig;  and  a  raw-boned,  much-freckled  young 
man,  Peter  O'Gorman,  her  nephew. 

Nothing   could   be   more   cordial   than   the   reception   of 

VOL.  I.  —  15 


226  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

the  Kennyfecks ;  they  affected  not  to  think  that  it  was  so 
late,  vowed  that  the  clock  was  too  fast,  were  certain  that 
Mr.  Cashel's  watch  was  right ;  in  fact,  his  presence  was  a 
receipt  in  full  for  all  the  anxieties  of  delay,  and  so  they 
made  him  feel  it. 

There  was  a  little  quizzing  of  Roland,  as  they  seated 
themselves  at  table,  over  his  forgetfulness  of  the  day  before, 
but  so  good-humoredly  as  not  to  occasion,  even  to  himself, 
the  slightest  embarrassment. 

"  At  breakfast  at  the  barrack  !  "  repeated  Miss  Kenny  feck 
after  him.  "  What  a  formidable  affair,  if  it  always  lasts 
twenty-four  hours." 

"  What  do  you  mean?  How  do  you  know  that?  "  asked 
Roland,  half  in  shame,  half  in  surprise,  at  this  knowledge 
of  his  movements. 

"Not  to  speak  of  the  brilliant  conversation,  heightened 
by  all  the  excitement  of  wit,  champagne,  and  hazard,  — 
dreadful  competitors  with  such  tiresome  society  as  ours," 
said  Olivia. 

"  Never  mind  them,  Mr.  Cashel,"  broke  in  Miss  O'Hara, 
in  a  mellifluous  Doric;  "'tis  jealous  they  are,  because  you 
like  the  officers  better  than  themselves." 

A  most  energetic  dissent  was  entered  by  Cashel  to  this 
supposition,  who  nevertheless  felt  grateful  for  the  advocacy 
of  the  old  lady. 

"  When  I  was  in  the  Cape  Coast  Fencibles,"  broke  in 
Peter,  with  an  accent  that  would  have  induced  one  to 
believe  Africa  was  on  the  Shannon,  "  we  used  to  sit  up  all 
night,  —  it  was  so  hot  in  the  day ;  but  we  always  called  it 
breakfast,  for  you  see  —  " 

"And  when  are  we  to  visit  your  pictures,  Mr.  Cashel?" 
said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  whose  efforts  to  suppress  Peter  were 
not  merely  vocal,  as  that  injured  individual's  shins  might 
attest. 

"  That  depends  entirely  on  you,  madam,"  said  Roland, 
bowing.  "  I  have  only  to  say,  the  earlier  the  more  agree- 
able to  me." 

"He  has  such  a  beautiful  collection,"  said  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck, turning  to  her  sister. 

"Indeed,    then,    I   delight   in    pictures,"    said    "Aunt 


THE   DOMESTIC   DETECTIVE   CONSULTED.  227 

Fanny,"  as  her  nieces  called  her.  "  I  went  the  other  day 
to  Mount  Bennett,  to  see  a  portrait  painted  by  Rousseau." 

"  By  Rubens,  I  suppose  you  mean,  aunt,"  interposed  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  tartly. 

"So  it  may  be,  my  dear,  I  never  know  the  names  right; 
but  it  was  a  dark  old  man,  with  a  hairy  cap  and  a  long  gray 
beard,  as  like  Father  Morris  Heffernan  as  ever  it  could 
stare." 

"  Is  your  new  Carlo  Dolce  so  very  like  Olivia?  "  interposed 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  who  was  sadly  hampered  by  her  country 
relatives  and  their  reminiscences. 

''  So  very  like,  madam,  that  I  beg  you  to  accept  it  as  a 
portrait,"  replied  Roland. 

"  Upon  my  word,  then,  young  gentleman,  you're  not  so 
fond  of  a  pretty  face  as  you  might  be,"  broke  in  Aunt 
Fanny,  '^  or  you  would  n't  be  so  ready  to  give  it  away."  A 
very  hearty  laugh  at  the  old  lady's  eccentricity  relieved 
Cashel  from  all  necessity  of  explanation. 

"The  old  masters  are  so  good,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck; 
"  I  delight  in  their  fine,  vigorous  touch." 

"  Why  don't  they  put  more  clothes  on  their  figures,"  said 
Aunt  Fanny,  "  even  a  warm  climate  is  no  excuse  for  the 
way  the  creatures  went  about." 

"If  you  saw  them  in  Hickweretickanookee,"  said  Peter, 
"  King  John  never  wore  anything  but  a  cocked-hat  and  a 
pair  of  short  black  gaiters  the  missionary  gave  him  for 
learning  the  Lord's  Prayer." 

"  I  hear  that  Lady  Janet  said  Gary  would  be  an  excellent 
study  for  Helen  M'Gregor,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck.  "It 
M^as  scarcely  civil,  however." 

"  It  was  more,  ■ —  downright  rude,"  said  Cashel,  reddening ; 
"but  Miss  Kennyfeck  can  afford  to  pay  the  penalty  beauty 
always  yields  to  its  opposite." 

"  There,  my  dear,  that's  a  compliment," said  Aunt  Fanny, 
"and  don't  be  displeased.  I  say,  darling,  didn't  he  say  a 
while  ago  you  were  like  somebod}^  at  Carlow?  " 

"A  Carlo  Dolce,  aunt,"  broke  in  both  sisters,  laughing; 
and  so  the  dinner  proceeded  amid  commonplaces,  relieved 
occasionally  from  their  flatness  by  the  absurdities  of  Aunt 
Fanny,  who  seemed  as  good  naturedly  proof  against  ridicule, 
as  she  was  likely  to  evoke  it. 


228  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Peter  was  the  first  to  rise  from  table,  as  he  was  anxious 
to  go  to  "  the  play,"  and  the  ladies  soon  retired  to  the 
drawing-room,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  slyly  whispering,  as  she 
passed  behind  Roland's  chair,  an  entreaty  that  he  would  not 
long  delay  in  following  them.  Cashel's  anxiety  to  close  his 
tete-a-tete  arose  from  another  cause,  —  his  burning  anxiety 
to  finish  Enrique's  letter ;  while  Kennyfeck  himself  seemed 
beating  about,  uncertain  how  to  open  subjects  he  desired  to 
have  discussed.     After  a  long  pause,  he  said,  — 

"I  was  speaking  to  Pepystell  yesterday,  and  he  is  of 
opinion  that  there  is  no  use  in  preserving  any  part  of  the 
old  structure  at  Tubbermore,  —  the  great  difficulty  of  adapt- 
ing a  new  character  of  architecture  to  the  old  would  not 
repay  the  cost." 

Cashel  nodded  a  careless  assent,  and,  after  a  pause, 
Kennyfeck  resumed :  — 

' '  It  might  be  of  some  convenience  at  present,  however, 
to  let  the  building  stand  as  it  is.  A  residence  of  one  kind 
or  other  you  will  want,  particularly  as  the  elections  are 
approaching." 

Another  nod  in  silence  was  all  the  reply. 
''  Pepystell's  estimate  is  large,  —  don't  you  think  so?  " 
He  nodded  again. 

"Nearly  seventy  thousand  pounds!  And  that  does  not 
include  the  gate  tower,  which  seems  a  point  for  after  con- 
sideration." 

"I  remember,"  muttered  CasTiel,  in  a  voice  that  im- 
plied anything  rather  than  a  mind  attentive  to  the  subject 
before  it. 

"Now,  it  would  be  as  well,"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  draw- 
ing a  long  breath,  and,  as  it  were,  preparing  himself  for  a 
great  effort,  "  to  put  a  little  order  into  our  affairs.  Your 
first  year  or  two  will  be  costly  ones,  —  building  expenses, 
equipage,  horses,  furniture,  election  charges.  Much  of 
your  capital  is  vested  in  foreign  securities,  which  it  would 
be  injurious  to  sell  at  this  moment.  Don't  you  think"  — 
here  he  changed  his  voice  to  an  almost  insinuating  softness 
—  "don't  you  think  that  by  devoting  a  certain  portion  of 
your  income,  —  say  a  third,  or  one-half,  perhaps,  —  for  the 
present,   to  meet  these   charges  — "     He  paused,    for    he 


THE  DOMESTIC   DETECTIVE   CONSULTED.  229 

saw  from  Cashel's  occupied  look  that  be  was  not  attending 
to  his  words. 

"  Well  —  continue,"  said  Roland,  affecting  to  wait  for  his 
conclusion. 

"  I  was  about  to  ask,  sir,"  said  Kennyfeck,  boldly, 
''  what  sum  would  you  deem  sufficient  for  your  yearly 
expenditure  ?  " 

"What  is  the  amount  of  my  income?"  asked  Cashel, 
bluntly. 

"  In  good  years,  something  above  sixteen  thousand 
pounds ;  in  bad  ones,  somewhat  less  than  twelve." 

"Well,  then, — you  have  the  scale  of  my  expenditure  at 
once." 

"Not  your  whole  income?"  exclaimed  Kennyfeck,  aston- 
ished. 

"Even  so.  I  see  no  earthly  reason  for  hoarding.  I  do 
not  find  that  squandering  money  is  any  very  high  enjoy- 
ment ;  I  am  certain  scraping  and  saving  it  would  afford  me 
still  less  pleasure." 

"  But  there  are  always  casualties  demanding  extraordinary 
expense,  —  a  contested  election,  for  instance." 

"I'll  not  try  it,  — I  don't  intend  to  enter  Parliament." 

' '  When  you  marry  —  " 

"Perhaps  I  shall  not  do  that  either." 

"  Well,  sums  lost  at  play,  —  the  turf  has  pressed  on  many 
a  strong  pocket." 

"Play  has  no  fascination  for  me;  I  can  give  it  up:  I 
may  almost  say  I  have  done  so." 

"Not  without  paying  a  heavy  penalty,  however,"  said 
Kennyfeck,  whose  animation  showed  that  he  had  at  last 
approached  the  territory  he  was  so  long  in  search  of. 

"How  do  you  mean?"  said  Cashel,  blushing  deeply,  as 
he  began  to  fear  that  by  some  accident  his  secret  visit  to  the 
money-lender  had  reached  Kennyfeck's  ears. 

"  Your  drafts  on  Latrobe,  sir,  whose  account  I  have 
received  to-day,  are  very  heavy." 

"  Oh,  is  that  all?  "  said  Cashel,  carelessly. 

"All!  all!"  repeated  Kennyfeck;  then,  suddenly  cor- 
recting himself,  he  added,  "I  am  almost  certain,  sir,  that 
your  generous  habits  have  over-mastered  your  prudence. 
Are  you  aware  of  having  drawn  fifty  thousand  pounds  ?  " 


230  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'  No,  I  really  was  not,"  replied  Cashel,  smiling  more  at 
the  attorney's  look  of  consternation  than  anything  else. 
*'I  fancied  about  half  as  much.  Pray  tell  me  some  of  the 
items.  No,  no !  not  from  book ;  that  looks  too  formal,  — 
just  from  memory." 

"Well,  there  are  horses  without  number, — one  bought 
with  all  his  engagements  for  the  Oaks,  which  amount  to  a 
forfeiture  of  four  thousand  pounds." 

"  I  remember  that,  —  a  piece  of  Linton's  blundering  ;  but 
he  lost  more  heavily  himself,  poor  fellow,  our  steed  Lanz- 
knecht  having  turned  out  a  dead  failure." 

"Then  there  is  something  about  a  villa  at  Cowes,  which 
I  am  certain  you  never  saw." 

"No;  but  I  have  a  drawing  of  it  somewhere  —  a  pretty 
thing  under  a  cliff,  with  a  beautiful  bay  of  deep  water,  and 
good  anchorage.     Linton  knows  all  about  it." 

' '  Twelve  thousand  pounds  is  a  large  sum  to  give  without 
ever  seeing  the  purchase." 

"So  it  is;    but  go  on." 

"I  cannot  remember  one-half;  but  there  is  plate  and 
jewels ;  sums  advanced  for  building  ;  subscriptions  to  every- 
thing and  everybody;  a  heavy  amount  transmitted  to  the 
Havannah." 

"Very  true;  and  that  reminds  me  of  a  letter  which  I 
received  at  the  very  moment  I  was  leaving  home.  Have 
I  your  leave  to  finish  the  reading?  It  is  from  an  old  and 
valued  comrade." 

"Of  course, — don't  think  of  me  for  an  instant,"  said 
Kennyfeck,  scarcely  able  to  repress  an  open  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  amazement  at  the  coolness  which  could  turn 
from  so  interesting  a  topic  to  the,  doubtless  commonplace, 
narrative  of  some  Mexican  sailor. 

Cashel  was,  meanwhile,  searching  every  pocket  for  the 
letter,  which  he  well  remembered,  after  reading  in  the 
carriage,  to  have  crushed  in  his  hand  as  he  ascended  the 
stairs.  "  I  have  dropped  this  letter,"  said  he,  in  a  voice 
of  great  agitation.  "  May  I  ask  if  your  servants  have 
found  it?" 

The  bell  was  rung,  and  the  butler  at  once  interrogated. 
He  had  seen  nothing,  neither  had  the  footman.  They  both 
remembered,  however  that  Mr.  Phillis  had  accompanied  his 


THE  DOMESTIC   DETECTIVE   CONSULTED.  231 

master  to  the  foot  of  the  stairs  to  receive  some  directions, 
and  then  left  him  to  return  with  the  carriage. 

'*  So,  then,  Phillis  must  have  found  it,"  said  Cashel,  ris- 
ing hastily ;  and,  without  a  word  of  apology  or  excuse,  he 
bade  his  host  a  hurried  good  evening,  and  left  the  room. 

"  Won't  you  have  the  carriage?  Will  you  not  stay  for  a 
cup  of  tea?  "  cried  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  hastening  after  him.  But 
the  hall-door  had  already  banged  heavily  behind  him,  and 
he  was  gone.  When  Cashel  reached  his  house,  it  was  to 
endure  increased  anxiety  ;  for  Mr.  Phillis  had  gone  out,  and, 
like  a  true  gentleman's  gentleman,  none  of  the  other  ser- 
vants knew  anything  of  his  haunts,  or  when  he  would  return. 
Leaving  Cashel,  then,  to  the  tortures  of  a  suspense  which 
his  fervid  nature  made  almost  intolerable,  we  shall  return 
for  a  brief  space  to  the  house  he  had  just  quitted,  and  to 
the  drawing-room,  where,  in  momentary  expectation  of  his 
appearance,  the  ladies  sat,  maintaining  that  species  of  '*  stac- 
cato" conversation  which  can  afford  interruption  with  least 
inconvenience.  It  is  our  duty  to  add,  that  we  bring  the 
reader  back  here  less  with  any  direct  object  as  to  what  is 
actually  going  forward,  than  to  make  him  better  acquainted 
with  the  new  arrival. 

Had  Miss  O'Hara  been  the  mere  quiet,  easy-going,  simple- 
minded  elderly  maiden  she  seemed  to  Casliel's  eyes,  the 
step  on  our  part  had  not  been  needed  ;  she  might,  like  some 
other  characters  of  our  tale,  have  been  suffered  to  glide  by 
as  ghosts  or  stage-supernumeraries  do,  unquestioned  and 
undetained  ;  but  she  possessed  qualities  of  a  kind  to  demand 
somewhat  more  consideration.  Aunt  Fanny,  to  give  her 
the  title  by  which  she  was  best  known,  was,  in  reality,  a 
person  of  the  keenest  insight  into  others,  —  reading  people 
at  sight,  and  endowed  with  a  species  of  intuitive  perception 
of  all  the  possible  motives  which  lead  to  any  action.  Re- 
siding totally  in  a  small  town  in  the  west  of  Ireland,  she 
rarely  visited  the  capital,  and  was  now,  in  fact,  brought  up 
*' special"  by  her  sister,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  who  desired  to 
have  her  advice  and  counsel  on  the  prospect  of  securing 
Cashel  for  one  or  other  of  her  daughters.  It  was  so  far  a 
wise  step,  that  in  such  a  conjuncture  no  higher  opinion  could 
have  been  obtained. 


23^ 


ROLAND  CASHEL. 


"It  was  like  getting  a  private  hint  from  the  Chancellor 
about  a  cause  in  equity."  This  was  Mr.  Kenny  feck's  own 
illustration. 

Aunt  Fanny  was  then  there  in  the  guise  of  a  domestic 
detective,  to  watch  proceedings  and  report  on  them,  —  a 
function  which  simplifies  the  due  conduct  of  a  case,  be  it  in 
love  or  law,  beyond  anything. 

"  How  agreeable  your  papa  must  be  this  evening,  my 
dear !  "  said  Mrs.  Kenny  feck,  as  with  a  glance  at  the  clock 
on  the  mantelpiece  she  recognized  that  it  was  near  ten. 


"I'm  sure  he  is  deep  in  one  of  his  interminable  law 
arguments,  which  always  makes  Mr.  Cashel  so  sleepy  and 
so  stupid,  that  he  never  recovers  for  the  rest  of  the 
evening." 

"  He  ought  to  find  the  drawing-room  all  the  pleasanter 
for  the  contrast,"  remarked  Miss  O'Hara,  dryly.  "I  like 
to  see  young  men  —  mind  me  well,  young  men,  it  does  n't 
do  with  old  ones  —  thoroughly  bored  before  thej^  come 
among  the  ladies.  The  sudden  change  to  the  tea,  and  the 
wax-lights,  and  the  briglit  eyes,  are  trying  stimulants.  Let 
them,  however,  be  what  they  call  '  pleasant '  below-stair, 
and  they  are  sure   to   come   up  flushed  and  excited,  well 


THE   DOMESTIC   DETECTIVE   CONSULTED.  233 

satisfied  with  the  host's  claret,  and  only  anxious  to  order 
the  carriage.     What  o'clock  is  it  now?  " 

*'  A  quarter-past  ten,  aunt." 

"Too  late;  full  three-quarters  too  late,"  ejaculated  she, 
with  the  tone  of  an  oracle.  '•  There  is  nothing  your  father 
could  have  to  say  should  have  detained  him  till  now.  Play 
that  little  Mexican  thing  again,  my  dear ;  and,  Livy,  love, 
leave  the  door  a  little  open ;  don't  you  find  the  heat  of  this 
room  intolerable  ?  " 

The  young  ladies  obeyed,  and  meanwhile  Aunt  Fanny, 
drawing  her  chair  closer  to  her  sister's,  said,  in  a  low 
tone,  — 

"  Well,  explain  the  matter  more  clearly.  Did  he  give  her 
the  diamonds  ?  " 

''No;  that  is  the  strangest  of  all,"  responded  Mrs. 
Kenny  feck.  "  He  just  told  Leonard  to  send  them  home, 
and  we  never  heard  more  about  them." 

Aunt  Fanny  shook  her  head. 

"You  know,  he  asked  Olivia,  as  they  were  going  down- 
stairs, what  she  thought  of  them  ;  and  she  replied,  '  They  're 
beautiful.'  " 

' '  How  did  she  say  it,  though ;  was  it  like  a  mere  casual 
remark,  or  did  she  make  it  with  feeling?" 

"  With  feeling,"  echoed  Mrs.  Kenny  feck,  pursing  up  her 
lips. 

"Well?" 

"Well!  he  just  said,  'I'll  take  them,'  and  there  was  an 
end  of  it." 

Aunt  Fanny  seemed  to  reflect,  and,  after  some  time,  said, — 

"  Now,  as  to  the  horse,  when  did  he  make  her  a  present 
of  that?" 

"  It  was  to  Caroline  he  gave  the  horse;  sure  I  told  you 
already." 

"  Very  true,  so  you  did ;  a  bad  feature  of  the  case,  too ! 
She  ought  to  have  declined  it  somehow." 

"So  she  would,"  broke  in  Mrs.  Kennyfeck ;  "but,  you 
perceive,  it  was  very  doubtful,  at  the  time,  which  of  the 
girls  he  preferred." 

"And  you  tell  me  this  Mr.  Linton  has  such  influence 
over  him." 


234  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

'*The  most  absolute.  It  is  only  a  few  weeks  since  they 
became  acquainted,  and  now  they  are  inseparable." 

"  What  is  he  like,  —  Linton  himself?  " 

Mrs.  Kennyfeck  gave  a  most  significant  signal,  by  clos- 
ing up  her  lips,  and  slowly  nodding  her  head, — a  gesture 
that  seemed  well  understood. 

"Does  Kennyfeck  know  nothing  of  his  affairs;  has  he 
no  private  history  of  the  man,  which  might  be  useful  to 
us?" 

"  Don't  think  of  that,  my  dear,"  rejoined  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
knowingly;  "but  here  they  come  at  last."  This  was  said 
with  reference  to  the  sound  of  footsteps  on  the  stairs,  which 
gradually  approached,  and  at  last  Mr.  Kennyfeck  made  his 
appearance  in  the  drawing-room. 

"  Where  is  Mr.  Cashel, —  is  he  gone?  "  asked  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck, in  an  accent  of  unusual  anxiety. 

"  He  went  away  above  an  hour  ago.  He  wanted  to  see 
a  letter,  or  to  write  one,  or  to  look  for  one  he  had  lost,  —  I 
forget  which." 

"I'm  certain  you  do!"  observed  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  with 
an  expression  of  unequivocal  contempt.  "I  am  perfectly 
certain  we  need  not  look  to  you  for  either  information  or 
assistance." 

Poor  Mr.  Kennyfeck  was  dumfoundered.  The  very  words 
were  riddles  to  him,  and  he  turned  to  each  person  about  him 
in  silent  entreaty  for  explanation  ;  but  none  came. 

"What  had  you  been  conversing  about?"  asked  Aunt 
Fanny,  in  that  encouraging  tone  lawyers  sometimes  use  to 
draw  out  a  reluctant  or  bashful  witness. 

"Of  his  money  affairs,  Miss  O'Hara;  and  I  am  grieved 
to  say  that  the  subject  had  so  little  interest  for  him,  that 
he  started  up  and  left  me  on  suddenly  remembering  some- 
thing about  a  letter." 

"  Which  something  you  have  totally  forgotten,"  remarked 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  tartly. 

"  And  yet  it  would  be  a  most  important  fact  for  us," 
observed  Aunt  Fanny,  with  judicial  solemnity;  "a  letter, 
whether  to  read  or  to  write,  of  such  pressing  necessity, 
implies  much." 

"  Come,  Livy,  dear,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  rising  from 


THE  DOMESTIC   DETECTIVE   CONSULTED.  235 

the  pianoforte,  and  addressing  her  sister,  who  sat  reading 
on  the  sofa,  "  my  canzonette  and  your  beautiful  attitude 
are  so  much  sweetness  thrown  away.  He  's  gone  without 
even  a  thought  of  either!  There,  there,  don't  look  so 
innocently  vacant,  —  you  understand  me  perfectly." 

A  very  gentle  smile  was  all  the  younger  sister's  reply  as 
she  left  the  room. 

''  Depend  upon  it,  my  dear,"  said  Miss  O'Hara  to  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  "  that  young  man  had  made  some  unhappy 
connection ;  that 's  the  secret  of  this  letter,  and  when  thev 
get  into  a  scrape  of  the  kind  it  puts  marriage  out  of  their 
heads  altogether.  It  was  the  same  with  Captain  Morris," 
—  here  she  whispered  still  lower,  the  only  audible  words 
being,  ''without  my  ever  suspecting,  —  one  evening  —  a  low 
creature  —  never  set  eyes  upon  —  ah,  man,  man  !  "  And 
with  this  exclamation  aloud,  Aunt  Fanny  took  her  candle 
and  retired. 

About  a  minute  after,  however,  she  re-entered  the  draw- 
ing-room, and  advancing  close  to  her  sister,  said,  with  all 
the  solemnity  of  deep  thought,  — 

''Peter  is  no  good  in  this  case,  my  dear;  send  him 
home  at  once.  That  man  will '  blaze  '  for  the  asking."  And 
with  a  nod  of  immense  significance  she  finally  withdrew. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
HOW  Enrique's  letter  was  lost  and  found. 

"  Arcades  ambo  —  Blackguards  both !  " 

In  the  window  of«  a  very  pretty  cottage-room  overlooking 
the  Liffey,  and  that  romantic  drive  so  well  known  to  Dub- 
liners  as  the  '*  low  road  "  to  Lucan,  sat  Tom  Linton.  He 
was  enjoying  a  cigar  and  a  glass  of  weak  negus,  as  a  man 
may  enjoy  such  luxuries  seated  in  the  easiest  of  chairs, 
looking  out  upon  one  of  the  sweetest  of  woodland  land- 
scapes, and  feeling  the  while  that  the  whole  was  ''  his  own." 
If  conscientious  scruples  had  been  any  part  of  that  gentle- 
man's life  philosophy,  he  might  have  suffered  some  misgiv- 
ings, seeing  that  the  cottage  itself,  its  furniture,  the  plate, 
the  very  horses  in  the  stable  and  the  grooms  about  it,  had 
been  won  at  the  hazard-table,  and  from  one  whose  beggary 
ended  in  suicide.  But  Linton  did  not  dwell  on  such  things, 
and  if  they  did  for  an  instant  cross  his  mind,  he  dismissed 
them  at  once  with  a  contemptuous  pity  for  the  man  who 
could  not  build  up  a  fortune  by  the  arts  with  which  he  had 
lost  one.  He  had  not  begun  the  world  himself  with  much 
principle,  and  all  his  experiences  went  to  prove  that  even 
less  would  suffice,  and  that  for  the  purposes  of  the  station 
he  occupied,  and  the  society  he  frequented,  it  was  only 
necessary  that  he  sliould  not  transgress  in  his  dealings  with 
men  of  a  certain  rank  and  condition ;  so  that  while  every 
transaction  with  people  of  class  and  fashion  should  be 
strictly  on  "  the  square,"  he  was  at  perfect  liberty  to  prac- 
tise any  number  of  sharp  things  with  all  beneath  them.  It 
was  the  old  axiom  of  knight-errantry  adapted  to  our  own 
century,  which  made  every  weapon  fan-  used  against  the 
plebeian  I 


HOW  ENRIQUE'S  LETTER  WAS  LOST  AND  FOUND.      237 

From  a  pleasant  revery  over  some  late  successes  and  some 
future  ones  in  anticipation,  he  was  aroused  by  a  gentle  tap 
at  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  said  he  ;  "I  think  I  guess  who  it  is,  — Phillis, 
eh?" 

"Yes,  sir,  you're  quite  correct,"  said  that  individual, 
advancing  from  the  ipisty  twilight  of  the  room,  which  was 
only  partly  lighted  by  a  single  alabaster  lamp.  "  I  thought 
I  'd  find  you  at  home,  sir,  and  I  knew  this  letter  might 
interest  you.  He  dropped  it  when  going  up  the  stairs  at 
Kenny  feck's,  and  could  scarcely  have  read  it  through." 

"Sit  down,  George  —  sit  down,  man  —  what  v»ill  you 
take  ?  I  see  you  've  had  a  fast  drive  ;  if  that  was  your  car  I 
heard  on  the  road,  your  pace  was  tremendous.  What  shall 
it  be  —  claret  —  sherry  —  brandy-and-water  ?  " 

"  If  you  please,  sir,  sherry.  I  have  lost  all  palate  for 
Bordeaux  since  I  came  to  Mr.  Cashel.  We  get  abominable 
wine  from  Cullan." 

"  So  I  remarked  myself;  but  this  must  be  looked  to. 
Come,  try  that;  it's  some  of  Gordon's,  and  he  would  not 
send  a  bad  bottle  to  me." 

"  I  'm  very  certain  of  that,  sir.     It  is  excellent." 

"  Now  then  for  the  epistle."  So  saying,  he  lighted  a 
taper  and  prepared  to  read.  "  Jamaica,  —  oh,  a  shipmate's 
letter !  " 

"A  curious  one,  too,  sir,  as  you'll  say  when  you  read 
it." 

Linton,  without  reply,  began  to  read,  nor  did  he  break 
silence  till  he  finished,  when,  laying  down  the  paper,  he  said, 
"  And  this  very  fellow  who  writes  this  he  actually  spoke  of 
inviting  to  Ireland,  —  to  stay  some  time  at  his  house,  —  to  be 
introduced,  in  fact,  to  his  acquaintances  as  a  personal 
friend." 

"  It 's  very  sad,  sir,"  sighed  Phillis.  "  I  have  long  been 
of  opinion  that  I  must  leave  him.  The  appointments,  it  is 
true,  are  good ;  perquisites,  too,  very  handsome ;  but  the 
future,  Mr.  Linton,  —  what  a  future  it  will  be !  " 

"  It  need  not  be  a  very  near  one,  at  all  events,"  said 
Linton,  smiling;   "you've  read  this?" 

"  Just  threw  an  eye  over  it,  sir !  " 


238  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'  Well,  you  see  that  your  excellent  master  has  been  little 
better  than  a  pirate  or  a  slaver." 

*' Very  shocking,  indeed,  sir!  " 

'*  Of  course  this  must  not  go  abroad,  George." 

"  It  would  ruin  me  utterly,  sir." 

"  To  be  sure  it  would.  No  nobleman,  nor  any  gentleman 
of  rank  or  fashion,  could  think  of  engaging  your  services 
after  such  an  appointment.  Happily,  George,  you  may  not 
require  such,  if  you  only  mind  your  hits.  Your  master  can 
afford  to  make  your  fortune,  and  never  know  himself  the 
poorer.     Come,  how  go  on  matters  latterly  at  No.   50  ? " 

''Pretty  much  as  usual,  sir;  two  dinner-parties  last 
week." 

"  I  know  all  about  them,  though  I  affected  to  be  engaged 
and  did  n't  dine  there.  What  I  want  is  to  hear  of  these 
Kennyf ecks,  —  do  they  come  much  after  him  ?  " 

"  Only  once,  sir,  when  they  came  to  see  the  house  and 
stopped  to  luncheon." 

"  Well,  was  he  particular  in  his  attentions  to  either  of  the 
daughters  ?  " 

"  Very  attentive,  indeed,  sir,  to  the  younger.  She  dropped 
her  handkerchief  in  the  gallery,  and  ran  back  for  it,  and  so 
did  he,  sir." 

*'  You  followed,  of  course?  " 

"  I  did,  sir,  and  she  was  blushing  very  much  as  I  came  in, 
and  I  heard  her  say  something  about  '  forgiving  him,'  and 
then  they  left  the  room." 

"  And  what  of  Kenny  feck,  —  has  he  had  any  conversations 
with  him  on  business  ?  " 

"None,  sir;  I  have  strictly  followed  your  orders,  and 
never  admitted  him." 

' '  Lord  Charles  Frobisher  was  a  large  winner  t'  other 
night?"  said  Linton,  after  a  pause. 

"  Yes,  sir,  so  I  heard  them  say  at  supper,  and  Mr.  Cashel 
first  gave  a  check  and  then  changed  his  mind,  and  I  saw  him 
hand  over  a  heavy  sum  in  notes." 

"Indeed!"  muttered  Linton  to  himself;  "and  my 
worthy  friend  Charley  did  not  confess  this  to  me.  Have 
you  taken  care  that  the  people  don't  send  in  their  bills  and 
accounts,  as  I  mentioned?" 


HOW  ENRIQUE'S  LETTER  WAS  LOST  AND  FOUND.      239 

*' Yes,  sir;  with  few  exceptions,  nothiog  of  the  kind 
comes." 

"  What  brought  that  Mr.  Clare  Jones  so  frequently  of 
late?" 

"  He  came  twice  in  Mr.  Downie  Meek's  carriage,  sir,  but 
sat  all  the  while  outside,  while  Mr.  Meek  was  with  my  mas- 
ter ;  the  third  day,  however,  he  was  sent  for  to  come  in,  and 
spent  nearly  an  hour  in  the  study." 

'^Well,  what  took  place?" 

"I  could  only  hear  part  of  the  conversation,  sir,  as  I 
feared  I  might  be  sent  for.  The  subject  was  a  seat  in 
Parliament,  which  Mr.  Cashel  owns,  and  that  Mr.  Meek 
is  desirous  of  procuring  for  Jones." 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  my  little  Judas  !  is  that  your  game?  Go  on, 
George,  this  interests  me." 

"I  have  little  more  to  tell,  sir,  for  Mr.  Meek  always 
speaks  so  low,  and  my  master  scarcely  said  anything." 

"  And  Jones?" 

"He  merely  remarked  on  the  identity  of  his  political 
principles  with  those  of  the  present  Government." 

"Of  course;  the  fellow  began  as  a  Radical,  and  then 
turned  Tory,  and  now  is  a  Whig.  Blue  and  yellow  when 
mixed  always  make  green.     But  how  did  it  end?" 

"  As  well  as  1  could  perceive,  sir,  without  any  promise. 
My  master  was  to  deliberate  and  send  his  answer." 

'•  Let  neither  have  access  to  him  till  you  hear  from  me 
again, — mark  that." 

"You  shall  be  obeyed,  sir." 

"Did  Lord  Kilgoff  call?" 

"Twice,  sir;  but  my  master  was  out.  I  followed  your 
directions,  however,  and  said  that  her  Ladyship  was  with 
him,  and  he  seemed  much  provoked  at  not  finding  him  at 
home." 

"  Well,  how  did  he  take  it,  —  did  he  make  any  remark?  " 

"A  half  smile,  sir;   nothing  more." 

"But  said  nothing?" 

"  Not  a  word,  sir." 

Linton  arose  and  walked  the  room  in  deep  meditation ; 
at  last  he  said,  — 

"  You  had  better  let  him  have  those  letters  we  held  back 


240  ROLAND  CASH  EL. 

the  last  two  days,  to-day.  He  '11  not  think  deeply  over 
his  losses  on  the  Derby  while  dwelling  on  this  missing 
letter." 

''I  don't  suspect  his  losses,  sir,  will  cause  much  unea- 
siness on  any  score;  money  occupies  very  little  of  his 
thoughts." 

''  True;  but  here  the  sum  is  a  very  heavy  one.  I  made 
the  book  myself,  and  stood  to  win  thirty  thousand  pounds ; 
but,  no  matter,  —  it  can't  be  helped  now,  —  better  luck  an- 
other time.  Now,  another  point.  It  strikes  me  of  late 
that  he  seems  bored  somewhat  by  the  kind  of  life  he  is  lead- 
ing, and  that  these  carouses  at  the  messes  are  becoming  just 
as  distasteful  to  him  as  the  heavy  dinner-parties  with  the 
Dean  and  the  rest  of  them.     Is  that  your  opinion?" 

"Perfectly,  sir.  He  even  said  as  much  to  me  t'other 
evening,  when  he  came  back  from  a  late  supper.  He  is 
always  wishing  for  the  yacht  to  come  over,  —  speaks  every 
now  and  then  of  taking  a  run  over  to  London  and  Paris ; 
in  fact,  sir,  he  is  bored  here.     There  is  no  disguising  it." 

"I  feared  as  much,  George;  I  suspected,  many  a  day 
ago,  he  would  not  be  long  satisfied  with  the  provincial 
boards.  But  this  must  not  be;  once  away  from  Dublin, 
he  is  lost  to  us  forever.  I  know,  and  so  do  you  know, 
the  hands  he  would  fall  into  in  town.  Better  let  him  get 
back  to  his  old  prairie  haunts,  for  a  while,  than  that." 

"  Not  so  very  unlikely,  sir.  He  sits  poring  over  maps 
and  charts  for  hours  together,  and  scans  the  new  coast 
survey  like  a  man  bent  on  exploring  the  scenes  for  himself. 
It  is  hard  to  say  what  is  best  to  do  with  him." 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what  he  must  not  be  permitted  to  do  with 
himself :  he  must  not  leave  Ireland ;  he  must  not  marry ; 
he  must  not  enter  Parliament;  and,  for  the  moment,  to 
employ  his  thoughts  and  banish  ennui,  we  '11  get  up  the 
house-warming  at  Tubbermore.  I  mean  to  set  off  thither 
to-morrow." 

"Without  Mr.  Cashel,  sir?" 

"  Of  course ;  be  it  your  care  that  matters  are  well  looked  to 
in  my  absence,  and  as  Kennyfeck's  house  is  safer  than  the 
barracks,  he  may  dine  there  as  often  as  he  pleases.  Keep  a 
watch  on  Jones,  —  not  that  I  think  he  '11  be  very  dangerous ; 


HOW  ENRIQUE'S  LETTER  WAS  LOST  AND  FOUND.      241 

see  after  Lord  Charles,  whether  he  may  try  to  profit  by  my 
absence ;   and,  above  all,  write  me  a  bulletin  each  day." 

Mr.  Phillis  promised  a  strict  obedience  to  orders,  and 
rose  to  retire,  pleading  the  necessity  of  his  being  at  home 
when  his  master  returned. 

"What  of  this  letter,  sir?  Shall  I  contrive  to  place  it 
in  his  pocket,  and  discover  it  as  he  is  undressing?  He 
never  suspects  anything  or  anybody." 

"  No,  George,  —  I  '11  keep  it ;  it  may  turn  out  useful  to  us 
one  of  these  days  ;  there  's  no  knowing  when  or  how.  I  'm 
curious,  too,  to  see  how  he  will  act  with  reference  to  it,  — 
whether  he  will  venture  on  any  confidence  towards  me.  I 
suspect  not;  he  never  alludes  to  his  bygones.  The  only 
terror  his  mind  is  capable  of  would  seem  the  fear  of  fash- 
ionable contempt.  If  he  ever  lose  this,  he  's  lost  to  us  for- 
ever." This  was  said  rather  in  soliloquy  than  addressed  to 
Phillis,  who  did  not  appear  to  catch  the  meaning  of  the 
remark.  "You'll  leave  this  note  on  his  table,  and  take 
care  he  sees  it.  It  is  to  remind  him  of  an  appointment 
here  to-morrow  with  Hoare,  the  money-lender,  at  eleven 
o'clock  punctually." 

Phillis  took  the  note,  and  after  a  very  respectful  leave- 
taking,  withdrew. 

"Yes,'*  said  Linton,  musing,  as  he  leaned  against  the 
window,  "all  goes  fairly  so  far.  Mr.  Phillis  may  live  to 
see  himself  once  more  a  merchant  tailor  in  Cheapside,  and 
Tom  Linton,  under  the  buckler  of  his  M.P.,  defy  duns  and 
bums,  and  be  again  a  denizen  of  the  only  city  worth 
living  in." 

He  then  reseated  himself  in  an  easy-chair,  and  prepared 
to  con  over  the  letter,  to  which  he  had  only  given  a  passing 
attention.  The  narrative  of  Enrique,  full  of  exciting 
details  and  hair-breadth  'scapes,  was,  however,  far  less  an 
object  of  interest  to  Linton  than  the  consideration  how  far  a 
character  like  this  might  be  made  use  of  for  the  purpose  of 
threat  and  intimidation  over  Cashel. 

His  reflections  ran  somewhat  thus:  "The  day  may  come 
—  is,  perhaps,  even  now  nigh  —  when  Cashel  shall  reject 
my  influence  and  ascendency.  There  never  has  been  any- 
thing which  could  even  counterfeit  friendship  between  us,  -^ 

VOL.  I.  — 16 


242  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

close  intimacy  has  been  all.  To  maintain  that  hold  over 
him  so  necessary  to  my  fortunes,  I  must  be  in  a  position  to 
menace.  Roland  himself  has  opened  the  way  to  this  by 
his  own  reserve.  The  very  concealment  he  has  prac- 
tised implies  fear;  —  otherwise,  why,  in  all  the  openness  of 
our  familiar  intercourse,  never  have  mentioned  Enrique's 
name;  still  more,  never  once  alluded  to  this  Maritaiia? 
It  is  clear  enough  with  what  shame  he  looks  back  on  the 
past.  Let  mine  be  the  task  to  increase  that  feeling,  and 
build  up  the  fear  of  the  world's  ridicule,  till  he  shall  be  the 
slave  of  every  whisper  that  syllables  his  name!  The  higher 
his  path  in  society,  the  greater  the  depth  to  which  disclos- 
ures may  consign  him;  and  what  disclosures  so  certainly 
ruinous  as  to  connect  him  with  the  lawless  marauders  of 
the  Spanish  main,  — the  slaver  and  the  pirate?  His  dear 
friend,  a  felon,  taken  in  open  fight  by  a  British  cruiser! 
Maritana,  too,  may  serve  us ;  her  name  as  mistress  —  or, 
if  need  be,  as  wife  —  will  effectually  oppose  any  matri- 
monial speculations  here.  So  far  this  letter  has  been  a 
rare  piece  of  fortune !  " 

For  some  moments  he  walked  the  room  with  excited  and 
animated  looks,  the  alternating  shades  of  pleasure  and  its 
opposite  flitting  rapidly  across  his  strong  features.  At  last 
he  broke  out  in  words:  "Ay,  Cashel,  I  am  as  suddenly 
enriched  as  yourself,  —  but  with  a  different  heritage.  Yours 
w^as  Gold ;  mine,  Revenge !  And  there  are  many  to  whom 
I  could  pay  the  old  debt  home.  There  's  Forster,  with  his 
story  of  Ascot,  and  his  black-ball  at  Graham's!  —  a  double 
debt,  with  years  of  heavy  interest  upon  it;  there  's  Howard, 
too,  that  closed  his  book  at  Tattersall's,  after  tearing  out 
the  leaf  that  had  my  name!  Frobisher  himself  daring  his 
petty  insolence  at  every  turn !  —  all  these  cry  for  acquit- 
tance, and  shall  have  it.  There  are  few  men  of  my  own 
standing,  that  with  moneyed  means  at  my  command,  I 
could  not  ruin !  and,  ungallant  as  the  boast  may  be,  some 
fair  ladies,  too!  How  I  have  longed  for  the  day,  how  I 
have  schemed  and  plotted  for  it!  and  now  it  comes  almost 
unlooked  for. 

*' Another  month  or  two  of  this  wasteful  extravagance, 
and  Cashel  will  be  deeply,  seriously  embarrassed.     Kenny- 


HOW  ENRIQUE'S  LETTER  WAS  LOST  AND  FOUND.      243 

feck  will  suggest  retrenchment  and  economy;  that  shall  be 
met  with  an  insidious  doubt  of  the  good  man's  honesty. 
And  how  easy  to  impeach  it!  The  schemes  of  his  wife  and 
daughter  will  aid  the  accusation.  Roland  shall,  meanwhile, 
learn  the  discomfort  of  being  '  hard  up.'  The  importunity 
—  nay,  the  insolence  —  of  duns  shall  assail  him  at  every 
post  and  every  hour.  From  this  there  is  but  one  bold, 
short  step,  —  and  take  it  he  must,  —  make  me  his  agent. 
That  done,  all  the  rest  is  easy.  Embarrassment  and  injuri- 
ous reports  will  soon  drive  him  from  the  country,  and  from 
an  estate  he  shall  never  revisit  as  his  own !  So  far,  —  the 
first  act  of  the  drama!  The  second  discovers  Tom  Linton 
the  owner  of  Tubbermore,  and  the  host  of  Lord  and  Lady 
Kilgoff,who  have  condescendingly  agreed  to  pass  the  Eas- 
ter recess  with  him.  Mr.  Linton  has  made  a  very  splendid 
maiden  speech,  which,  however,  puzzles  the  ministers  and 
the  '  Times ; '  and,  if  he  were  not  a  man  perfectly  indiff- 
erent to  place,  would  expose  him  to  the  imputation  of 
courting   it, 

"And  Laura  all  this  while!"  said  he,  in  a  voice  whose 
accents  trembled  with  intense  feeling,  "can  she  forgive  the 
past?  Will  old  memories  revive  old  affections,  or  will  they 
rot  into  hatred?  Well,"  cried  he,  sternly,  "whichever 
way  they  turn,  I  'm  prepared." 

There  was  a  tone  of  triumphant  meaning  in  his  last  words 
that  seemed  to  thrill  through  his  frame,  and  as  he  threw 
himself  back  upon  his  seat,  and  gazed  out  upon  the  starry 
sky,  his  features  wore  the  look  of  proud  and  insolent 
defiance.  "So  is  it,"  said  he,  after  a  pause;  "one  must  be 
alone  —  friendless,  and  alone  —  in  life,  to  dare  the  world  so 
fearlessly."  He  filled  a  goblet  of  sherry,  and  as  he  drank 
it  off,  cried,  "Courage!     Tom  Linton  against  '  the  field! '  " 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE    CONSPIRATORS    DISTURBED. 

Eternal  friendship  let  us  swear, 

In  fraud  at  least  —  "  nous  serous  freres." 

Robert  Macaire. 

Cashel  passed  a  night  of  feverish  anxiety.  Enrique's 
uncertain  fate  was  never  out  of  his  thoughts ;  and  if  for  a 
moment  he  dropped  off  to  sleep,  he  immediately  awoke  with 
a  sudden  start,  —  some  fancied  cry  for  help,  some  heart- 
uttered  appeal  to  him  for  assistance  breaking  in  upon  his 
weary  slumber. 

How  ardently  did  he  wish  for  some  one  friend  to  whom 
he  might  confide  his  difficulty,  and  from  whom  receive 
advice  and  counsel.  Linton's  shrewdness  and  knowledge 
of  life  pointed  him  out  as  the  fittest;  but  how  to  reveal  to 
his  fashionable  friend  the  secrets  of  that  buccaneering  life 
he  had  himself  so  lately  quitted?  How  expose  himself  to 
the  dreaded  depreciation  a  "  fine  gentleman  "  might  visit 
on  a  career  passed  amid  slavers  and  pirates?  A  month  or 
two  previous,  he  could  not  have  understood  such  scruples ; 
but  already  the  frivolities  and  excesses  of  daily  habit  had 
thrown  an  air  of  savage  rudeness  over  the  memory  of  his 
Western  existence,  and  he  had  not  the  courage  to  brave  the 
comments  it  might  suggest.  To  this  false  shame  had  Linton 
brought  him,  acting  on  a  naturally  sensitive  nature,  by 
those  insidious  and  imperceptible  counsels  which  represent 
the  world  —  meaning,  thereby,  that  portion  of  it  who  are  in 
the  purple  and  fine  linen  category  —  as  the  last  appeal  in  all 
cases,  not  alone  of  a  man's  breeding  and  pretensions,  but 
of  his  honor  and  independence. 

It  was  not  without  many  a  severe  struggle,  and  many  a 
heartfelt  repining,   Cashel  felt  himself  surrender  the  free 


THE   CONSPIRATORS  DISTURBED.  245 

action  of  his  natural  independence  to  the  petty  and  formal 
restrictions  of  a  code  like  this.  But  there  was  an  innate 
dread  of  notoriety,  a  sensitive  shrinking  from  remark,  that 
made  him  actually  timid  about  transgressing  whatever  he 
was  told  to  be  an  ordinance  of  fashion.  To  dress  in  a 
particular  way;  to  frequent  certain  places;  to  be  known  to 
certain  people ;  to  go  out  at  certain  hours ;  and  so  on,  — 
were  become  to  his  mind  as  the  actual  requirements  of  his 
station,  and  often  did  he  regret  the  hour  when  he  had  parted 
with  his  untrammelled  freedom  to  live  a  life  of  routine  and 
monotony. 

Shrinking,  then,  from  any  confidence  in  Linton,  he  next 
thought  of  Keunyfeck;  and,  although  not  placing  a  high 
value  on  his  skill  and  correctness  in  such  a  difficulty,  he 
resolved,  at  all  hazards,  to  consult  him  on  the  course  to  be 
followed.  He  had  been  often  told  how  gladly  Govern- 
ment favors  the  possessor  of  fortune  and  influence.  "Now," 
thought  he,  "is  the  time  to  test  the  problem.  All  of 
mine  is  at  their  service,  if  they  but  liberate  my  poor 
comrade." 

So  saying  to  himself,  he  had  just  reached  the  hall,  when 
the  sound  of  wheels  approached  the  door.  A  carriage  drew 
up,  and  Linton,  followed  by  Mr.  Hoare,  the  money-lender, 
descended. 

"Oh,  I  had  entirely  forgotten  this  affair,"  cried  Cashel, 
as  he  met  them;  "can  we  not  fix  another  day?" 

"Impossible,  sir;  I  leave  town  to-night." 

"Another  hour  to-day,  then?"  said  Cashel,  impatiently. 

"This  will  be  very  difficult,  sir.  I  have  some  very  press- 
ing engagements,  all  of  which  were  formed  subject  to  your 
convenience  in  this  business." 

"But  while  you  are  discussing  the  postponement,  you 
could  finish  the  whole  affair,"  cried  Linton,  drawing  his 
arm  within  Cashel's,  and  leading  him  along  towards  the 
library.  "By  Jove!  it  does  give  a  man  a  sublime  idea  of 
wealth,  to  be  sure,"  said  he,  laughing,  "to  see  the  cool 
indifference  with  which  you  can  })ropose  to  defer  an  inter- 
view that  brings  you  some  fifteen  thousand  pounds.  A8 
for  me,  I  'd  make  the  Viceroy  himself  play  '  ante-chamber/ 
if  little  Hoare  paid  me  a  visit," 


246  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Well,  be  it  so;  only  let  us  despatch,"  said  Cashel,  "for 
I  am  anxious  to  catch  Kenuyfeck  before  he  goes  down  to 
court." 

"I'll  not  detain  you  many  minutes,  sir,"  said  Hoare, 
drawing  forth  a  very  capacious  black  leather  pocket-book, 
and  opening  it  on  the  table.  "'I'here  are  the  bills,  drawn 
as  agreed  upon,  —  at  three  and  six  months,  —  here  is  a  state- 
ment of  the  charges  for  interest,  commission,  and  — " 

"I  am  quite  satisfied  it  is  all  right,"  said  Cashel,  push- 
ing the  paper  carelessly  from  him.  "I  have  borrowed 
money  once  or  twice  in  my  life,  and  always  thought  any- 
thing liberal  which  did  not  exceed  cent  per  cent." 

"We  are  content  with  much  less,  sir,  as  you  will  per- 
ceive," said  Hoare,  smiling.  "Six  per  cent  interest,  one- 
half  commission  —  " 

"Yes,  yes;  it  is  all  perfectly  correct,"  broke  in  Cashel. 
"I  sign  my  name  here  —  and  here?  " 

"And  here,  also,  sir.  There  is  also  a  policy  of  insurance 
on  your  life." 

"What  does  that  mean?" 

"Oh,  a  usual  kind  of  security  in  these  cases,"  said  Lin- 
ton; "because  if  you  were  to  die  before  the  bills  came 
due  —  " 

"I  see  it  all;  whatever  you  please,"  said  Cashel,  taking 
up  his  hat  and  gloves.  "Now,  will  you  pardon  me  for 
taking  a  very  abrupt  leave?" 

"You  are  forgetting  a  very  material  point,  sir,"  said 
Hoare;  "this  is  an  order  on  Freud  and  Beggan  for  the 
money." 

"Very  true.  The  fact  is,  gentlemen,  my  head  is  none  of 
the  clearest  to-day.     Good-bye  —  good-bye. " 

"Ten  to  one  all  that  haste  is  to  keep  some  appointment 
with  one  of  Kennyfeck's  daughters,"  said  Hoare,  as  he 
shook  the  sand  over  the  freshly-signed  bills,  when  the  heavy 
bang  of  the  hall-door  announced  Cashel' s  departure. 

"I  fancy  not,"  said  Linton,  musing;  "I  believe  I  can 
guess  the  secret." 

"  What  am  I  to  do  with  these,  Mr.  Linton  ?  "  said  the 
other,  not  heeding  the  last  observation,  as  he  took  two 
pieces  of  paper  from  the  pocket  of  his  book. 


THE   CONSPIRATORS  DISTURBED.  247 

"  What  are  they  ?  "  said  Linton,  stretching  at  full  length 
on  a  sofa. 

"Two  bills,  with  the  endorsement  of  Thomas  Linton." 

"Then  are  two  ten-shilling  stamps  spoiled  and  good  for 
nothing,"  replied  Linton,  "  which,  without  that  respectable 
signature,  might  have  helped  to  ruin  somebody  worth 
ruining." 

"One  will  be  due  on  Saturday,  the  twelfth.     The  other  —  " 

"Don't  trouble  yourself  about  the  dates,  Hoare.  I'll 
renew  as  often  as  you  please  —  I  '11  do  anything  but  pay." 

"Come,  sir,  I'll  make  a  generous  proposition:  I  have 
made  a  good  morning's  work.  You  shall  have  them  both 
for  a  hundred." 

"Thanks  for  the  liberality,"  said  Linton,  laughing. 
"You  bought  them  for  fifty." 

"I  know  that  very  well;  but  remember,  you  were  a  very 
depreciated  stock  at  that  time.  Now,  you  are  at  a  pre- 
mium. I  hear  you  have  been  a  considerable  winner  from 
our  friend  here." 

"Then  you  are  misinformed.  I  have  won  less  than  the 
others,  —  far  less  than  I  might  have  done.  The  fact  is, 
Hoare,  I  have  been  playing  a  back  game,  —  what  jockeys 
call,  holding  my  stride." 

"Well,  take  care  you  don't  wait  too  long,"  said  Hoare, 
sententiously. 

"How  do  you  mean?  "  said  Linton,  sitting  up,  and  show- 
ing more  animation  than  he  had  exhibited  before. 

"You  have  your  secret  —  I  have  mine,"  replied  Hoare, 
dryly,  as  he  replaced  the  bills  in  his  pocket-book  and 
clasped  it. 

"What  if  we  exchange  prisoners,  Hoare?" 

"It  would  be  like  most  of  your  compacts,  Mr.  Linton,  all 
the  odds  in  your  own  favor." 

"I  doubt  whether  any  man  makes  such  compacts  with 
you^"  replied  Linton;  "but  why  higgle  this  way?  '  Remem- 
ber, '  as  Peacham  says,  *  that  we  could  hang  one  another ; ' 
and  there  is  an  ugly  adage  about  what  happens  when  people 
such  as  you  and  I  '  fall  out.'  " 

"So  there  is;  and,  strange  enough,  I  was  just  thinking 
of  it.     Come,  what  is  your  secret?" 


M^  ROLAND  CA8IIEL. 

"Read  that,"  said  Linton,  placing  Enrique's  letter  in  his 
hand,  while  he  sat  down,  directly  in  front,  to  watch  the 
effect  it  niight  produce. 

Hoare  read  slowly  and  attentively;  some  passages  he 
re-read  three  or  four  times;  and  then,  laying  down  the 
letter,  he  seemed  to  reflect  on  its  contents. 

"You  scarcely  thought  what  kind  of  company  our  friend 
used  to  keep  formerly?  "  asked  Linton,  sneeringly. 

"I  knew  all  about  that  tolerably  well.  I  was  rather  puz- 
zling myself  a  little  about  this  Pedro  Rica;  that  same  trick 
of  capturing  the  slavers,  and  then  selling  the  slaves,  is 
worthy  of  one  I  could  mention,  not  to  speak  of  the  double 
treachery  of  informing  against  his  comrades,  and  sending 
the  English  frigate  after  them." 

"A  deep  hand  he  must  be,"  remarked  Linton,  coolly. 

"A  very  deep  one;  but  what  is  Cashel  likely  to  do  here?  " 

"Nothing;  he  has  no  clew  whatever  to  the  business;  the 
letter  itself  he  had  not  time  to  read  through,  when  he 
dropped  it,  and  —  " 

"I  understand  —  perfectly.  This  accounts  for  his  agita- 
tion. Well,  I  must  say,  my  secret  is  the  better  of  the  two, 
and,  as  usual,  you  have  made  a  good  bargain." 

"Not  better  than  your  morning's  work  here,  Hoare; 
confess  that." 

"Ah,  there  will  not  be  many  more  such  harvests  to  reap," 
said  he,  sighing. 

"How  so?  his  fortune  is  scarcely  breached  as  yet." 

"He  spends  money  fast,"  said  Hoare,  gravely;  "even 
now,  see  what  sums  he  has  squandered ;  think  of  the  presents 
he  has  lavished,  —  diamonds,  horses  —  " 

"As  to  the  Kennyfeck  affair,  it  was  better  than  getting 
into  a  matrimonial  scrape,  which  I  fancy  I  have  rescued 
him  from." 

"Oh,  no,  nothing  of  the  kind  Pirate  as  he  is,  he  would  n't 
venture  on  that." 

"Why  so?  —  what  do  you  mean?  " 

"Simply,  that  he  is  married  already;  at  least,  that  species 
of  betrothal  which  goes  for  marriage  in  his  free  and  easy 
country." 

"Married!  "    exclaimed   Linton,     in    utter    amazement; 


THE   CONSPIRATORS  DISTURBED.  249 

*'and  he  never  even  hinted  in  the  most  distant  manner  to 
this." 

"And  yet  the  obligation  is  sufficiently  binding,  according 
to  Columbian  law,  to  give  his  widow  the  benefit  of  all 
property  he  might  die  possessed  of  in  that  Republic." 

"And  he  knows  this  himself?  " 

"So  well,  that  he  has  already  proposed  a  very  large  sum 
as  forfeit  to  break  the  contract." 

"And  this  has  been  refused?  " 

"Yes.  The  girl's  father  has  thought  it  better  to  follow 
your  own  plan,  and  make  '  a  waiting  race,'  well  knowing, 
that  if  Cashel  does  not  return  to  claim  her  as  his  wife,  —  or 
that,  which  is  not  improbable,  she  may  marry  more  advan- 
tageously, —  he  will  always  be  ready  to  pay  the  forfeit." 

"May  I  learn  his  name?  " 

"No!" 

"Nor  his  daughter's  —  the  Christian  name,  I  mean." 

"  To  what  end  ?  It  would  be  a  mere  idle  curiosity,  for  I 
should  exact  a  pledge  of  your  never  divulging  it." 

"Of  course,"  said  Linton,  carelessly.  "It  was,  as  you 
say,  a  mere  idle  wish.  Was  this  a  love  affair,  then,  for  it 
has  a  most  commercial  air?  " 

"I  really  don't  know  that;  I  fancy  that  they  were  both 
very  young,  and  very  ignorant  of  what  they  were  pledging, 
and  just  as  indifferent  to  the  consequences." 

"She  was  handsome,  this  —  " 

"Maritaiia  is  beautiful,  they  say,"  said  Hoare,  who 
inadvertently  let  slip  the  name  he  had  refused  to  divulge. 

Linton's  quick  ear  caught  it  at  once,  but  as  rapidly 
affected  not  to  notice  it,  as  he  said,  — 

"But  I  really  do  not  see  as  yet  how  this  affects  what  we 
were  just  speaking  of?  " 

"It  will  do  so,  however  —  and  ere  long.  These  people, 
who  were  immensely  rich  some  time  back,  are  now,  by  one 
of  the  convulsions  so  frequent  in  those  countries,  reduced 
to  absolute  poverty.  They  will,  doubtless,  follow  Cashel 
here,  and  seek  a  fulfilment  of  his  contract.  I  need  not  tell 
you,  Mr.  Linton,  what  must  ensue  on  such  a  demand;  it 
would  be  hard  to  say  whether  acceptance  or  refusal  would  be 
worse.     In  a  word,  the  father-in-law   is  a  man  of  such  a 


250  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

character,  there  is  only  one  thing  would  be  more  ruinous 
than  his  enmity,  and  that  is,  any  alliance  with  him.  Let 
him  but  arrive  in  this  country,  and  every  gentleman  of 
station  and  class  will  fall  back  from  Cashel's  intimacy; 
and  even  those  —  I'll  not  mention  names,"  said  he,  smil- 
ing—  "who  could  gloss  over  some  of  their  prejudices  with 
gold-leaf,  will  soon  discover  that  a  shrewder  eye  than 
Cashel's  will  be  on  them,  and  that  all  attempts  to  profit  by 
his  easiness  of  temper  and  reckless  nature  will  be  met  by 
one  who  has  never  yet  been  foiled  in  a  game  of  artifice  and 
deceit." 

"Then  I  perceive  we  have  a  very  short  tether,"  said 
Linton,  gravely;  "when  may  this  worthy  gentleman  be 
looked  for?" 

"At  any  moment.  I  believe  early  in  spring,  however, 
will  be  the  time." 

"Well,  that  gives  us  a  few  months;  during  which  I  must 
contrive  to  get  in  for  this  borough  of  Derraheeny  —  But 
hark !  is  that  a  carriage  at  the  door  ?  —  yes,  by  Jove !  the 
Kennyfecks.  I  remember,  he  had  asked  them  to-day  to 
come  and  see  his  pictures.  I  say,  Hoare,  step  out  by  the 
back  way  ;  we  must  not  be  caught  together  here.  I  '11  make 
my  escape  aftei-wards." 

Already  the  thundering  knock  of  the  footman  resounded 
through  the  house,  and  Hoare,  not  losing  a  moment,  left  the 
library,  and  hastened  through  the  garden  at  the  rear  of  the 
house;  while  Linton,  seizing  some  writing  materials,  hur- 
ried upstairs,  and  established  himself  in  a  small  boudoir  off 
one  of  the  drawing-rooms,  carefully  letting  down  the  Vene- 
tians -as  he  entered,  and  leaving  the  chamber  but  half 
lighted;  this  done,  he  drew  a  screen  in  front  of  him,  and 
waited  patiently. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

VISIT   TO    THE    "  CASHEL    PICTURE    GALLERY." 

Ignored  the  schools  of  France  and  Spain, 

And  of  the  Netherlands  not  surer, 
He  knew  not  Cuyp  from  Claude  Lorraine, 

Nor  Dow  from  Albert  Durer. 

Bell:  Images. 

Scarcely  had  the  Kenny  fecks'  carriage  driven  from  the 
door  when  the  stately  equipage  of  the  MacFarliues  drew  up, 
which  was  soon  after  followed  by  the  very  small  pony 
phaeton  of  Mrs.  Leicester  White,  that  lady  herself  driving, 
and  having  for  her  companion  a  large  high-shouldered, 
spectacled  gentleman,  whose  glances,  at  once  inquiring  and 
critical,  pronounced  him  as  one  of  her  numerous  jjTotecjGs 
in  art,  science,  or  letters. 

This  visit  to  the  "Cashel  Gallery,"  as  she  somewhat 
grandiloquently  designated  the  collection,  had  been  a  thing 
of  her  own  planning;  first,  because  Mrs.  White  w^as  an 
adept  in  that  skilful  diplomacy  which  so  happily  makes 
plans  for  pleasure  at  other  people's  houses  —  and  oh,  what 
numbers  there  are!  —  delightful,  charming  people  as  the 
world  calls  them!  whose  gift  goes  no  further  than  this, 
that  they  keep  a  registry  of  their  friends'  accommodation, 
and  know  to  a  nicety  the  season  to  dine  here,  to  sup  there, 
to  picnic  at  one  place,  and  to  "  spend  the  day  "  —  horrible 
expression  of  a  more  horrible  fact  —  at  another.  But  ]\Irs. 
White  had  also  another  object  in  view  on  the  present  occa- 
sion, which  was,  to  introduce  her  companion,  Mr.  Elias 
Howie,  to  her  Dublin  acquaintance. 

Mr.  Elias  Howie  was  one  of  a  peculiar  class,  which  this 
age,  so  fertile  in  inventions,  has  engendered,  a  publishers' 


252  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

man-of-all-work,  ready  for  everything,  from  statistics  to 
satire,  and  equally  prepared  to  expound  prophecy,  or  write 
squibs  for  "Punch." 

Not  that  lodgings  were  not  inhabited  in  Grub  Street 
before  our  day,  but  that  it  remained  for  the  glory  of  this 
century  to  see  that  numerous  horde  of  tourist  authors  held 
in  leash  by  fashionable  booksellers,  and  every  now  and 
then  let  slip  over  some  country,  to  which  plague,  pestilence, 
or  famine,  had  given  a  newer  and  more  terrible  interest. 
In  this  novel  walk  of  literature  Mr.  Howie  was  one  of  the 
chief  proficients ;  he  was  the  creator  of  that  new  school  of 
travel  which,  writing  expressly  for  London  readers,  refers 
everything  to  the  standard  of  "town; "  and  whether  it  be  a 
trait  of  Icelandic  life,  or  some  remnant  of  old-world  exist- 
ence in  the  far  East,  all  must  be  brought  for  trial  to  the  bar 
of  "Seven  Dials,"  or  stand  to  plead  in  the  dock  of  Pall 
Mall  or  Piccadilly.  Whatever  errors  or  misconceptions 
he  might  fall  into  respecting  his  subjects,  he  made  none 
regarding  his  readers.  He  knew  them  by  heart,  —  their 
leanings,  their  weakness,  and  their  prejudices;  and  how 
pleasantly  could  he  flatter  their  town- bred  self-sufl3ciency, 
—  how  slyly  insinuate  their  vast  superiority  over  all  other 
citizens,  insidiously  assuring  them  that  the  Thames  at 
Richmond  was  infinitely  finer  than  the  Rhine  or  the  Danube, 
and  that  a  trip  to  Margate  was  richer  in  repayal  than  a  visit 
to  the  Bosphorus!  Ireland  was,  just  at  the  time  we  speak 
of,  a  splendid  field  for  his  peculiar  talents.  The  misery- 
mongers  had  had  their  day.  The  world  was  somewhat 
weary  of  Landlordism,  Pauperism,  and  Protestantism,  and 
all  the  other  "  isms  "  of  that  unhappy  country. 

There  was  nothing  that  had  not  been  said  over  the  over- 
grown Church  establishment,  the  devouring  Middleman, 
Cottier  misery,  and  Celtic  barbarism;  people  grew  weary 
of  hearing  about  a  nation  so  endowed  with  capabilities,  and 
which  yet  did  nothing,  and  rather  than  puzzle  their  heads 
any  further,  they  voted  Ireland  a  "bore."  It  was  just 
then  that  "this  inspired  Cockney"  determined  to  try  a  new 
phase  of  the  subject,  and  this  was  not  to  counsel  nor  console, 
not  to  lament  over  nor  bewail  our  varied  mass  of  errors 
and  misfortunes,  but  to  laugh  at  us.     To  hunt  out  as  many 


VISIT  TO  THE  "  CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      253 

incongruities  —  many  real  enough,  some  fictitious  —  as  he 
could  find;  to  unveil  all  that  he  could  discover  of  social 
anomaly;  and,  without  any  reference  to,  or  any  knowledge 
of,  the  people,  to  bring  them  up  for  judgment  before  his 
less  volatile  and  more  happily  circumstanced  countrymen, 
certain  of  the  verdict  he  sought  for  —  a  hearty  laugh.  His 
mission  was  to  make  "Punch  "  out  of  Ireland,  and  none 
more  capable  than  he  for  the  office. 

A  word  of  Mr.  Howie  in  the  flesh,  and  we  have  done. 
He  was  large  and  heavily  built,  but  neither  muscular  nor 
athletic;  his  frame  and  all  his  gestures  indicated  weakness 
and  uncertainty.  His  head  was  capacious,  but  not  remark- 
able for  what  phrenologists  call  moral  development;  while 
the  sinister  expression  of  his  eyes  —  half  submissive,  half 
satirical  —  suggested  doubts  of  his  sincerity.  There  was 
nothing  honest  about  him  but  his  mouth;  this  was  large, 
full,  thick-lipped,  and  sensual,  —  the  mouth  of  one  who 
loved  to  dine  well,  and  yet  felt  that  his  agreeability  was  an 
ample  receipt  in  full  for  the  best  entertainment  that  ever 
graced  Black  wall  or  the  "Fr^res." 

It  is  a  heavy  infliction  that  we  story-tellers  are  compelled 
to  lay  upon  our  readers  and  ourselves,  thus  to  interrupt 
our  narrative  by  a  lengthened  description  of  a  character 
not  essentially  belonging  to  our  story ;  we  had  rather,  far 
rather,  been  enabled  to  imitate  Mrs.  White,  as  she  advanced 
into  the  circle  in  the  drawing-room,  saying,  "Mr.  Cashel, 
allow  me  to  present  to  your  favorable  notice  my  distin- 
guished friend,  Mr.  Howie.  Lady  Janet  MacFarline,  Mr. 
Howie, — "  sotto, — "the  author  of  'Snooks  in  the  Holy 
Land,'  the  wittiest  thing  of  the  day;  Sir  Andrew  will  be 
delighted  with  him  —  has  been  all  over  the  scenes  of  the 
Peninsular  war.     Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  Mr.  Howie." 

Mr.  Howie  made  his  round  of  salutations,  and  although 
by  his  awkwardness  tacitly  acknowledging  that  they  were 
palpably  more  habituated  to  the  world's  ways  than  himself, 
yet  inwardly  consoled  by  remarking  certain  little  traits  of 
manner  and  accent  suflTjciently  provincial  to  be  treasured 
up,  and  become  very  droll  in  print  or  a  copper  etching. 

"It 's  a  vara  new  pleasure  ye  are  able  to  confer  upon  your 
friends,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Sir  Andrew,  "  to  show  them  so 


254  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

fine  a  collection  o'  pictures  in  Ireland,  whar,  methinks, 
the  arts  ha'  no  enjoyed  too  mickle  encouragement." 

"I  confess,"  said  Cashel,  modestly,  "I  am  but  ill  quali- 
fied to  extend  the  kind  of  patronage  that  would  be  service- 
able, had  I  even  the  means;  I  have  not  the  slightest 
pretension  to  knowledge  or  judgment.  The  few  I  have  pur- 
chased have  been  as  articles  of  furniture,  pleasant  to  look 
at,  without  any  pretension  to  high  excellence." 

"Just  as  Admiral  Dalrymple  paid  ten  pounds  for  a  dung- 
hill when  he  turned  farmer,"  whispered  Mr.  Howie  in 
Mrs.  White's  ear,  "and  then  said,  '  he  had  only  bought  it 
because  some  one  said  it  was  a  good  thing;  but  that, 
now,  he  'd  give  any  man  "  twenty  "  to  tell  him  what  to  do 
with  it.'" 

Mrs.  White  burst  into  a  loud  fit  of  laughter,  exclaiming: 

"Oh,  how  clever,  how  good!  Pray,  Mr.  Howie,  tell 
Lady  Janet  —  tell  Mr.  Cashel  that." 

"  Oh,  madam !  "  cried  the  terrified  tourist,  who  had  not 
discovered  before  the  very  shallow  discrimination  of  his 
gifted  acquaintance. 

"If  it  is  so  vara  good,"  said  Sir  Andrew,  "we  maun 
insist  on  hearin'  it." 

"No,  no!  nothing  of  the  kind,"  interposed  Howie;  "be- 
sides, the  observation  was  only  intended  for  Mrs.  White's 
ear." 

"Very  true,"  said  that  lady,  affecting  a  look  of  con- 
sciousness. 

"The  odious  woman,"  whispered  Miss  Kennyfeck  to  her 
sister;  "see  how  delighted  she  looks  to  be  compromised." 

"If  we  had  Linton,"  said  Cashel,  politely  offering  his 
arm  to  Lady  Janet,  as  he  led  her  into  the  so-called  gallery, 
"he  could  explain  everything  for  us.  We  have,  however,  a 
kind  of  catalogue  here.  This  large  landscape  is  said  to  be 
by  Both." 

"If  she  be  a  coo,"  said  Sir  Andrew,  "I  maun  say  it's 
the  first  time  I  ever  seen  ane  wi'  the  head  ower  the  tail." 

"Nonsense,"  said  Lady  Janet;  "don't  ye  perceive  that 
the  animal  is  fore-shortened,  and  is  represented  looking 
backwards  ?  " 

"I  ken  nothing  aboot  that;  she  may  be  shortened  in  the 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."     255 

tore-parts,  an'  ye  say,  and  that  may  be  some  peculiar  breed, 
but  what  brings  her  head  ower  her  rump  ?  " 

Sir  Andrew  was  left  to  finish  his  criticism  alone,  the 
company  moving  on  to  a  portrait  assigned  to  Vandyck,  as 
Diedrich  von  Aevenghem,  Burgomaster  of  Antwerp. 

"  A  fine  head !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  White,  authoritatively ; 
"don't  you  think  so,  Mr.  Howie?  " 

"  A  very  choice  specimen  of  the  great  master,  for  which, 
doubtless,  you  gave  a  large  sum." 

*'Four  hundred,  if  I  remember  aright,"  said  Cashel. 

"I  think  he  maught  hae  a  clean  face  for  that  money," 
broke  in  Sir  Andrew. 

"What  do  you  mean,  sir?"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  insidi- 
ously, and  delighted  at  the  misery  Lady  Janet  endured  from 
his  remarks. 

"Don't  ye  mind  the  smut  he  has  on  ane  cheek?  " 

"It 's  the  shadow  of  his  nose.  Sir  Andrew,"  broke  in  Lady 
Janet,  with  a  sharpness  of  rebuke  there  was  no  misunder- 
standing. 

"  Eh,  my  leddy,  so  it  may,  but  ye  need  na  bite  mine  off, 
for  a'  that!  "  And  so  saying,  the  discomfited  veteran  fell 
back  in  high  dudgeon. 

The  party  now  broke  into  the  twos  and  threes  invariable 
on  such  occasions,  and  while  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  and  her  elder 
daughter  paid  their  most  devoted  attentions  to  Lady  Janet, 
Mrs.  White  and  the  author  paired  off,  leaving  Olivia  Kenny- 
feck to  the  guidance  of  Cashel. 

"So  you  '11  positively  not  tell  me  what  it  is  that  preys  on 
your  mind  this  morning?"  said  she,  in  the  most  insinuating 
of  soft  accents. 

Cashel  shook  his  head  mournfully,  and  said,  — 

"Why  should  I  tell  you  of  what  it  is  impossible  you  could 
give  me  any  counsel  in,  while  your  sympathy  would  only 
cause  uneasiness  to  yourself?" 

"But  you  forget  our  compact,"  said  she,  archly;  "there 
was  to  be  perfect  confidence  on  both  sides,  was  there  not?" 

"Certainly.     Now,  when  shall  we  begin?" 

"Have  you  not  begun  already?" 

"I  fancy  not.  Do  you  remember  two  evenings  ago,  when 
I   came   suddenly  into   the   drawing-room    and  found   you 


256  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

pencil  in  hand,  and  you,  instead  of  at  once  showing  me 
what  you  had  been  sketching,  shut  the  portfolio,  and  carried 
it  oft",  despite  all  my  entreaties  —  nay,  all  my  just 
demands  ?  " 

"Oh,  but,"  said  she,  smiling,  "confidence  is  one  thing  — 
confession  is  another." 

"Too  subtle  distinctions  for  me,"  cried  Cashel.  "I 
foolishly  supposed  that  there  was  to  be  an  unreserved  —  " 

"Speak  lower,  for  mercy  sake!  — don't  you  perceive 
Lady  Janet  trying  to  hear  everything  you  say?"  This 
was  said  in  a  soft  whisper,  while  she  added  aloud,  "I 
think  you  said  it  was  a  Correggio,  Mr.  Cashel,"  as  they 
stood  before  a  very  lightly-clad  Magdalen,  who  seemed 
endeavoring  to  make  up  for  the  deficiency  of  her  costume 
by  draping  across  her  bosom  the  voluptuous  masses  of  her 
golden  hair. 

"I  think  a  Correggio,"  said  Cashel,  confused  at  the 
sudden  artifice;  "but  who  has  the  catalogue?  —  oh.  Sir 
Andrew;  tell  us  about  number  fifty-eight." 

"Fefty-eight,  fefty-eight?  "  mumbled  Sir  Andrew  a  num- 
ber of  times  to  himself,  and  then,  having  found  the  number, 
he  approached  the  picture  and  surveyed  it  attentively. 

"Well,  sir,  what  is  it  called?  "  said  Olivia. 

"It 's  vara  singular,"  said  Sir  Andrew,  still  gazing  at  the 
canvas,  "but  doubtless  Correggio  knew  weel  what  he  was 
aboot.  This,"  said  he,  "is  a  picture  of  Sain  John  the 
Baaptist  in  a  raiment  of  caamel's  hair." 

No  sense  of  propriety  was  proof  against  this  announce- 
ment; a  laugh,  loud  and  general,  burst  forth,  during  which 
Lady  Janet,  snatching  the  book  indignantly  from  his  hands, 
cried,  — 

"You  were  looking  at  sixty-eight,  Sir  Andrew,  not  fifty- 
eight;  and  you  have  made  yourself  perfectly  ridiculous." 

"By  my  saul,  I  believe  so,"  muttered  the  old  gentleman, 
in  deep  anger.  "I  've  been  looking  at  '  saxty-eight '  ower 
long  already !  " 

Fortunately,  this  sarcasm  was  not  heard  by  her  against 
whom  it  was  directed,  and  they  who  did  hear  it  were  fain 
to  suppress  their  laughter  as  well  as  they  were  able.  The 
party  was  now  increased  by  the  arrival  of  the  Dean  and  his 


VISIT  TO  THE  "  CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      257 

*' ancient,"  Mr.  Softly,  to  the  manifest  delight  of  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  who  at  once  exclaimed,  — 

"Ah,  we  shall  now  hear  something  really  instructive." 

The  erudite  churchman,  after  a  very  abrupt  notice  of  the 
company,  started  at  speed  without  losing  a  moment. 

His  attention  being  caught  by  some  curious  tableaux  of 
the  interior  of  the  great  Pyramid,  he  immediately  com- 
menced an  explanation  of  the  various  figures,  the  costumes 
and  weapons,  which  he  said  were  all  masonic,  showing  that 
Pharaoh  wore  an  apron  exactly  like  the  Duke  of  Sussex, 
and  that  every  emblem  of  the  "arch"  was  to  be  found 
among  the  great  of  Ancient  Egypt. 

While  thus  employed,  Mr.  Howie,  seated  in  a  corner,  was 
busily  sketching  the  whole  party  for  an  illustration  to  his 
new  book  on  Ireland,  and  once  more  Cashel  and  his  com- 
panion found  themselves,  of  course  by  the  merest  accident, 
standing  opposite  the  same  picture  in  a  little  boudoir  off 
the  large  gallery.  The  subject  was  a  scene  from  Faust, 
where  Marguerite,  leaning  on  her  lover's  arm,  is  walking 
in  a  garden  by  moonlight,  and  seeking  by  a  mode  of  divina- 
tion common  in  Germany  to  ascertain  his  truth,  which  is  by 
plucking  one  by  one  the  petals  of  a  flower,  saying  alter- 
nately, "  He  loves  me,  he  loves  me  not ;  "  and  then,  by  the 
result  of  the  last-plucked  leaf,  deciding  which  fate  is 
accomplished.  Cashel  first  explained  the  meaning  of  the 
trial,  and  then  taking  a  rose  from  one  of  the  flower  vases, 
he  said, — 

"Let  me  see  if  you  can  understand  my  teaching;  you 
have  only  to  say,  '  Er  liebt  mich,'  and,  *  Er  liebt  mich 
nicht.'  " 

"But  how  can  I?"  said  she,  with  a  look  of  beaming 
innocence,  "if  there  be  none  who  —  " 

"No  matter,"  said  Cashel;  "besides,  is  it  not  possible 
yon  could  be  loved,  and  yet  never  know  it?  Now  for  the 
ordeal." 

"Er  liebt  mich  nicht,"  said  Olivia,  with  a  low,  silvery 
voice,  as  she  plucked  the  first  petal  off,  and  threw  it  on  the 
floor. 

"You  begin  inauspiciously,  Jind,  T  must  say,  unfairly, 
too,"  said  Cashel.     "The  first  augury  is  in  favor  of  love," 

VOL.   I.  — 17 


258  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

*'Er  liebt  mich,"  said  she,  tremulously,  and  the  leaf 
broke  in  her  fingers.  "Ha!  "  sighed  she,  *'what  does  that 
imply?     Is  it,  that  he  only  loves  by  half  his  heart?  " 

"That  cannot  be,"  said  Cashel;  "it  is  rather  that  you 
treated  his  affection  harshly." 

"Should  it  not  bear  a  little?  —  ought  it  to  give  way  at 
once  ?  " 

"Nor  will  it,"  said  he,  more  earnestly,  "if  you  deal  but 
fairly.  Come,  I  will  teach  you  a  still  more  simple,  and  yet 
unerring  test." 

A  heavy  sigh  from  behind  the  Chinese  screen  made  both 
the  speakers  start;  and  while  Olivia,  pale  with  terror,  sank 
into  a  chair,  Cashel  hastened  to  see  what  had  caused  the 
alarm. 

"Linton,  upon  my  life!  "  exclaimed  he,  in  a  low  whisper, 
as,  on  tiptoe,  he  returned  to  the  place  beside  her. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Cashel;  oh  dear,  Mr.  Cashel  —  " 

"Dearest  Olivia  —  " 

"Heigho!"  broke  in  Linton;  and  Roland  and  his  com- 
panion slipped  noiselessly  from  the  room,  and,  unperceived, 
mixed  with  the  general  company,  who  sat  in  rapt  attention 
while  the  Dean  explained  that  painting  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  an  optical  delusion,  —  a  theory  which  seemed 
to  delight  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  in  the  same  proportion  that  it 
puzzled  her.  Fortunately,  the  announcement  that  luncheon 
was  on  the  table  cut  short  the  dissertation,  and  the  party 
descended,  all  more  or  less  content  to  make  material  enjoy- 
ments succeed  to  intellectual  ones. 

"Well,"  whispered  Miss  Kennyfeck  to  her  sister,  as  they 
descended  the  stairs,  "did  he?  " 

An  almost  inaudible   "No"  was  the  reply. 

"Your  eyes  are  very  red  for  nothing,  my  dear,"  rejoined 
the  elder. 

"I  dinna  ken,  sir,"  said  Sir  Andrew  to  Softly,  as  he 
made  use  of  his  arm  for  support,  — "I  dinna  ken  how  ye 
understand  your  theory  aboot  optical  delusions,  but  I  maun 
say,  it  seems  to  me  a  vara  strange  way  for  men  o'  your 
cloth  to  pass  the  mornin'  starin'  at  naked  weemen,  —  crea- 
tures, too,  that  if  they  ever  leeved  at  all,  must  ha'  led  the 
maist  abondoned  lives.     I  take  it  that  Diana  herself  was  ne 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      259 

better  than  a  cuttie;  do  ye  mark  hoo  she  does  no  scruple 
to  show  a  bra  pair  of  legs  —  " 

"With  respect  to  the  Heathen  Mythology,"  broke  in 
Softly,  in  a  voice  he  hoped  might  subdue  the  discussion. 

"Don't  tell  me  aboot  the  haythins,  sir;  flesh  and  bluid 
is  a'  the  same,  whatever  Kirk  it  follows." 

Before  they  were  seated  at  table,  Linton  had  joined  them, 
explaining,  in  the  most  natural  way  in  the  world,  that, 
having  sat  down  to  write  in  the  boudoir,  he  had  fallen  fast 
asleep,  and  was  only  awakened  by  Mr.  Phillis  having  acci- 
dentally discovered  him.  A  look  of  quick  intelligence 
passed  between  Cashel  and  Olivia  at  this  narrative;  the 
young  lady  soon  appeared  to  have  recovered  from  her 
former  embarrassment,  and  the  luncheon  proceeded  pleas- 
antly to  all  parties.  Mr.  Howie  enjoyed  himself  to  the 
utmost,  not  only  by  the  reflection  that  a  hearty  luncheon  at 
two  would  save  an  hotel  dinner  at  six,  but  that  the  Dean 
and  Sir  Andrew  were  two  originals,  worth  five  pound  apiece 
even  for  "Punch."  As  to  Cashel,  a  glance  at  the  author's 
note-book  would  show  how  he  impressed  that  gifted  per- 
sonage: "R.  C. :  a  snob  —  rich  —  and  gullible;  his  pic- 
tures, all  the  household  gods  at  Christie's,  the  Vandyck, 
late  a  sign  of  the  Marquis  of  Granby,  at  Windsor.  Mem. : 
not  over  safe  to  quiz  him."  "But  we  '11  see  later  on." 
"Visit  him  at  his  country-seat,  '  if  poss.'  " 

"Who  is  our  spectacled  friend?"  said  Linton,  as  they 
drove  away  from  the  door. 

"Some  distinguished  author,  whose  name  I  have  for- 
gotten." 

"Shrewd  looking  fellow, — think  I  have  seen  him  at 
Ascot.     What  brings  him  over  here?" 

"To  write  a  book,  I  fancy." 

"What  a  bore.  This  is  the  age  of  detectives,  with  a 
vengeance.  Well,  don't  let  him  in  again,  that  *s  all.  By 
Jove!  it's  easier,  now-a-days,  to  escape  the  Queen's 
Bench  than  the  '  Illustrated  News. '  " 

"A  note  from  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Phillis, 
"and  the  man  waits  for  an  answer." 

Linton,  taking  up  a  book,  affected  to  read,  but  in  reality 
placed   himself  so  as   to  watch  Cashel's   features   as  ho 


260  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

perused  the  letter,  whose  size  and  shape  pronounced  to  be 
something  unusual.  Hurriedly  mumbling  over  a  rather 
tedious  exordium  on  the  various  views  the  writer  had 
taken  of  a  subject,  Cashel's  eyes  suddenly  flashed  as  he  drew 
forth  a  small  printed  paragraph,  cut  from  the  column  of  a 
newspaper,  and  which  went  thus :  — 

"  It  will  be,  doubtless,  in  our  readers'  recollection  how  a  short  time 
back  an  armed  slaver,  sailing  under  the  flag  of  Columbia,  was  taken, 
after  a  most  severe  and  sanguinary  engagement,  by  H.M.  brig 
'  Hornet.'  The  commander,  a  young  Spaniard  of  singularly  hand- 
some exterior,  and  with  all  the  bearing  and  appearance  of  a  rank 
very  different  from  his  mode  of  life,  was  carried  off  and  confined  in 
St.  Kitts'  till  such  time  as  he  could  be  brought  to  trial.  Representa- 
tions from  the  Government  of  the  Republic  were,  however,  made,  and 
a  claim  preferred  for  indemnity,  not  only  for  the  loss  of  the  vessel 
and  jjroperty,  but  for  the  loss  of  life  and  other  injury  incurred  on 
the  capture.  While  this  singular  demand  was  under  investigation, 
the  young  Spaniard  alluded  to  contrived  to  break  his  bonds  and 
escape  :  the  only  mode  of  doing  which  was  by  a  leap  into  the  sea 
from  the  parapet  of  the  fortress,  a  height,  we  are  informed,  of  nigh 
one  hundred  feet.  They  who  are  acquainted  with  the  locaUty  assert 
that  if  he  even  survived  the  desperate  leap,  he  must  inevitably  have 
fallen  a  victim  to  the  sharks  who  frequent  the  bay  to  catch  the 
bodies  of  all  who  die  in  the  prison,  and  who,  it  would  appear,  are 
thus  unceremoniously  disposed  of.  This  supposition  would  seem, 
however,  in  some  respect,  contradicted  by  the  circumstance  that  a 
Venezuelan  cruiser,  which  hung  about  the  shore  for  the  two 
preceding  days,  sailed  on  the  very  night  of  his  escape,  and,  in  all 
probability,  with  him  on  board." 

"I  could  swear  he  is  safe!"  cried  Cashel,  in  an  ecstasy 
of  enthusiasm;  "he  's  a  glorious  fellow." 

"Who  is  that?"  said  Linton,  looking  up;  "any  one  I 
know?" 

"No,  indeed!"  said  Cashel.  Then  suddenly  checking 
himself  in  a  speech  whose  opening  accents  were  far  from 
flattering,  he  added,  "One  you  never  even  heard  of." 

He  once  more  addressed  himself  to  the  letter,  which, 
however,  merely  contained  some  not  very  brilliant  commen- 
taries of  Mr.  Kennyfeck  over  the  preceding  extract,  and 
which,  after  enumerating  a  great  many  modes  of  investigat- 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      261 

ing  the  event,  concluded  with  the  only  thing  like  common 
sense  in  the  whole,  by  recommending  a  strict  silence  and 
secrecy  about  it  all. 

Cashel  was  closing  the  epistle,  when  he  caught  on  the 
turn-down  the  following  lines;  — 

"  Mr.  Linton  has  written  to  me  about  something  like  a  legal  trans- 
fer of  the  cottage  and  lands  of  Tubber-beg,  which  he  mentions  your 
having  presented  to  him.  What  reply  am  I  to  return  to  this  V 
I  stated  that  you  had  already  assured  Mr.  Corrigan,  tlie  present 
tenant,  of  an  undisturbed  possession  of  the  tenure,  but  Mr.  L.  in- 
terrupted my  explanation  by  saying  that  he  only  desired  an  assign- 
ment of  the  property,  such  as  would  give  a  parliamentary  qualification, 
and  that  all  pledges  made  to  Mr.  C.  he  would  regard  as  equally 
binding  on  himself." 

Cashel's  first  impulse,  when  he  had  read  thus  far,  was  to 
show  Linton  the  paragraph,  and  frankly  ask  him  what  he 
wished  to  be  done;  indeed,  he  had  already  advanced 
towards  him  with  that  object,  when  he  checked  himself. 
"  It  might  seem  ungracious  to  ask  any  explanation.  There 
had  been  already  a  moment  of  awkwardness  about  that 
same  cottage,  and  Linton  had  behaved  so  well;  and,  of 
course,  only  asking  him  for  the  possession  as  a  means  of 
qualifying,  Corrigan  need  never  hear  of  it.  Besides,  he 
could  make  Linton  a  present  of  much  greater  real  value  as 
soon  as  the  circumstances  of  the  estate  became  better 
known."  Such  and  such-like  reasonings  passed  hastily 
through  his  brain;  and  as  all  his  resolves  were  quickly 
formed,  and  as  quickly  acted  on,  he  sat  down  and  wrote : 

Dear  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  —  Many  thanks  for  the  information  of 
your  note,  which  has  served  to  allay  all  my  anxiety  for  a  valued 
friend.  As  to  Linton,  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  satisfy  him  in 
every  particular,  and  make  all  and  evei-y  legal  title  he  desires  to  the 
cottage  and  grounds  of  Tub})er-bcg.  Although  he  is  now  at  my  side 
while  I  write,  I  have  not  alluded  to  the  subject,  feeling  the  awkward- 
ness of  touching  on  a  theme  so  delicate.  Say,  however,  for  me,  that 
Corrigan  is  not  to  be  disturbed,  nor  any  pledge  I  have  made  towards 
him  —  no  matter  how  liberally  construed  by  him  —  to  be,  in  any 
respect,  infringed.  —  Yours,  in  great  haste, 

R.  C. 


262  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

''Why  you  are  quite  a  man  of  business  to-day,  Cashel, 
with  your  correspondence  and  letter- writing ;  and  I  'm  sorry 
for  it,  tor  I  wanted  to  have  a  bit  of  serious  talk  with  you, 

—  that  is,  if  it  do  not  bore  you." 

"Not  in  the  least.  I  was,  I  own  it,  nervous  and  uneasy 
this  morning;  now,  however,  my  mind  is  at  ease,  and  I 
am  quite  ready  for  anything." 

"Well,  then,  without  preamble,  are  you  still  of  the 
same  mind  about  Parliament,  because  the  time  is  hasten- 
ing on  when  you  ought  to  come  to  some  decision  on  the 
matter  ?  " 

"I  have  never  bestowed  a  thought  on  the  matter  since," 
said  Cashel.  "The  truth  is,  when  I  hear  people  talk  politics 
in  society,  I  am  only  astonished  at  their  seeming  bigotry 
and  one-sidedness;  and  when  I  read  newspapers  of  opposite 
opinions,  I  am  equally  confounded  at  the  excellent  argu- 
ments they  display  for  diametrically  contradictory  lines  of 
action,  so  that  my  political  education  makes  but  little 
progress." 

"What  you  say  is  perfectly  just,"  said  Linton,  appearing 
to  reflect  profoundly.  "A  man  of  real  independence  —  not 
the  mere  independence  of  fortune,  but  the  far  higher  inde- 
pendence of  personal  character  —  has  much  to  endure  in  our 
tangled  and  complex  system  of  legislation.  As  for  your- 
self, for  instance,  who  can  afford  to  despise  patronage,  who 
have  neither  sons  to  advance  in  the  Navy,  nor  nephews 
in  the  Foreign  Office,  who  neither  want  the  Bath  nor  a 
baronetcy,  who  would  be  as  sick  of  the  flatteries  as  you 
would  be  disgusted  with  the  servility  of  party  —  why  you 
should  submit  to  the  dust  and  heat,  the  turmoil  and  fatigue 
of  a  session,  I  can't  think.     And  how  you  would  be  bored, 

—  bored  by  the  ceaseless  reiterations  night  after  night,  the 
same  arguments  growing  gradually  weaker  as  the  echo 
grew  fainter;  bored  by  the  bits  of  '  Horace'  got  off  by 
heart  to  wind  up  with;  bored  by  the  bad  jests  of  witty 
members;  bored  by  Peel's  candor,  and  Palmerston's  petu- 
lance; by  Cobden's  unblushing  effrontery,  and  Hume's  tire- 
some placidity.  You  'd  never  know  a  happy  day  nor  a 
joyous  hour  till  you  accepted  the  Chiltern  Hundreds,  and 
cut  them  all.     No;  the  better  course  for  you  would  be, 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      263 

choose  a  nominee  for  your  borough;  select  a  man  in  whom 
you  have  confidence.  Think  of  some  one  over  whom  your 
influence  would  be  complete,  who  would  have  no  other  aim 
than  in  following  out  your  suggestions ;  some  one,  in  fact, 
who  unites  sufficient  ability  with  personal  friendship.  What 
d'  ye  think  of  Kennyfeck?  " 

"Poor  Kennyfeck,"  said  Cashel,  laughing,  "he'd  never 
think  of  such  a  thing." 

"I  don't  know,"  said  Linton,  musing;  "it  might  not  suit 
him,  but  his  wife  would  like  it  prodigiously." 

"Shall  I  propose  it,  then?  "  said  Cashel. 

"Better  not,  perhaps,"  said  Linton,  appearing  to  reflect; 
"his  income,  which  is  a  right  good  one,  is  professional. 
This,  of  course,  he  'd  forfeit  by  accepting  a  seat  in  the 
House.  Besides,  really,  the  poor  man  would  make  no  way. 
No,  we  must  think  of  some  one  else.     Do  you  like  White?  '* 

"Leicester  White?     I  detest  the  man,  and  the  wife  too." 

"Well,  there  's  Frobisher,  a  fellow  of  good  name  and 
family.  I  'd  not  go  bail  for  his  preferring  your  interests  to 
his  own,  but  as  times  go,  you  might  chance  upon  worse. 
Will  you  have  Frobisher?" 

"I  have  no  objection,"  said  Cashel,  carelessly;  "would 
he  like  it  himself?" 

"Would  he  like  anything  that  might  help  him  to  a  step  in 
the  regiment,  or  place  him  in  a  position  to  sell  himself, 
you,  and  the  borough  constituency,  to  the  highest  bidder?" 
said  Linton,  irritated  at  Cashel's  half  assent. 

"Well,  if  these  be  his  principles,"  cried  Cashel,  laughing, 
"I  think  we  'd  better  put  him  aside." 

"You  're  right;  he  'd  never  do,"  said  Linton,  recovering 
all  his  self-possession;  "what  you  want  is  a  man  sufficiently 
unconnected  with  ties  of  family  or  party,  to  see  in  you  his 
patron  and  his  object,  and  who,  with  cleverness  enough  to 
enunciate  the  views  you  desire  to  see  prevail,  has  also  the 
strong  bond  of  personal  regard  to  make  him  always  even 
more  the  friend  than  the  follower." 

"I  only  know  of  one  man  who  realizes  all  this  combina- 
tion," said  Cashel,  smiling,  "and  he.  would  n't  answer." 

"Who  is  he,  — and  why?"  asked  Linton,  in  vain  endeav- 
oring to  look  easy  and  unconcerned. 


264  ROLAiSD   CASHEL. 

*'Tom  Linton  is  the  man,  and  his  invincible  laziness  the 
'why.'     Is  n't  that  true?" 

"By  George,  Cashel,  if  you  're  content  with  the  first  part 
of  the  assertion,  I  '11  pledge  myself  to  remedy  the  latter.  I 
own,  frankly,  it  is  a  career  for  which  I  have  no  predilec- 
tion ;  if  I  had,  I  should  have  been  '  in  '  many  years  ago.  I 
have  all  my  life  held  very  cheap  your  great  political  leaders, 
both  as  regards  capacity  and  character,  and  1  have  ever 
fancied  that  I  should  have  had  some  success  in  the  lists; 
but  I  have  always  loved  ease,  and  that  best  of  ease,  inde- 
pendence. If  you  think,  however,  that  I  can  worthily 
represent  you  in  Parliament,  and  that  you  could  safely  trust 
to  my  discretion  the  knotty  question  of  political  war,  say 
the  word,  my  boy,  and  I  '11  fling  my  '  far  niente '  habits  to 
the  wind,  and  you  shall  have  all  the  merit  of  developing 
the  promising  member  for  —  what's  the  name  of  it?" 

''Derraheeny." 

*' Exactly  —  the  honorable  and  learned  —  for  Derraheeny. 
I  rather  like  the  title." 

"Well,  Linton,  if  you  are  really  serious  —  " 

"Most  assuredly,  serious;  and  more,  to  prove  it,  I  shall 
ask  you  to  clench  our  bargain  at  once.  It  is  not  enough 
that  you  make  me  your  nominee,  but  you  must  also  render 
me  eligible  to  become  so." 

"I  don't  clearly  comprehend  —  " 

"I  '11  enlighten  you.  Our  venerable  constitution,  per- 
fectly irrespective  of  the  Tom  Lintons  of  this  world  —  a 
race  which,  by  the  way,  never  dies  out,  probably  because 
they  have  avoided  intermarriage  —  has  decided  that  a  man 
must  possess  something  besides  his  wits  to  be  qualified  as 
*  Member  of  Parliament ; '  a  strange  law,  because  the  afore- 
said wits  are  all  that  the  Honorable  House  has  any  reason 
to  lay  claim  to.  This  same  something  which  guarantees 
that  a  man  has  a  legislative  capacity^  amounts  to  some 
hundreds  a  year.  Don't  be  impatient,  and  come  out  with 
any  piece  of  rash  generosity;  I  don't  want  you  to  make  a 
present  of  an  estate  —  only  to  lend  me  one!  To  be  quali- 
fied, either  as  a  candidate  for  the  House  or  a  gentleman 
rider,  one  only  needs  a  friend,  —  a  well-to-do  friend,  who  '11 
Bay,  'He's  all  right.'" 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLEKY."      265 

"I  'm  quite  ready  to  vouch  for  you,  Tom,  but  you  '11  have 
to  take  the  affair  into  your  own  management." 

"  Oh,  it 's  easy  enough.  That  same  cottage  and  the  farm 
which  we  spoke  of  the  other  day,  Kenuyfeck  can  make  out 
a  kind  of  conveyance,  or  whatever  the  instrument  is  called, 
by  which  it  acknowledges  me  for  its  owner,  vice  Roland 
Cashel,  Esquire.  This,  properly  sealed,  signed,  and  so  on, 
will  defy  the  most  searching  Committee  that  ever  pried 
into  any  gentleman's  private  circumstances." 

"  Then  explain  it  all  to  Kennyfeck,  and  say  that  I  wish  it 
done  at  once." 

'*Nay,  Cashel,  pardon  me.  My  ugliest  enemy  will  not 
call  me  punctilious,  but  I  must  stand  upon  a  bit  of  cere- 
mony here.  This  must  be  ordered  by  yourself.  You  are 
doing  a  gracious  thing,  —  a  devilish  kind  thing,  —  it  must 
not  be  done  by  halves.  Were  I  to  communicate  this  to 
Kennyfeck,  he  '11  unquestionably  obey  the  direction,  but 
most  certainly  he  'd  say  to  the  first  man  he  met,  '  See  how 
Linton  has  managed  to  trick  Cashel  out  of  a  very  consider- 
able slice  of  landed  property.'  He  'd  not  take  much  trouble 
to  state  the  nature  of  our  compact;  he  'd  rather  blink  the 
whole  arrangement,  altogether,  and  make  the  thing  seem  a 
direct  gift.  Now,  I  have  too  much  pride  on  your  account, 
and  my  own  too,  to  stand  this." 

"Well,  well,  it  shall  be  as  you  like;  only  I  trow  I  disa- 
gree with  you  about  old  Kennyfeck:  he's  a  fine  straight- 
hearted  fellow  —  he  's —  " 

"He  's  an  attorney,  Cashel.  These  fellows  can  no  more 
comprehend  a  transfer  of  property  without  a  trial  at  bar,  or 
a  suit  in  Equity,  than  an  Irish  second  can  understand 
a  falling  out  without  one  of  the  parties  being  brought  home 
on  a  door.  Besides,  he  has  rather  a  grudge  against  me.  F 
never  told  you,  —  indeed,  I  never  meant  to  tell  you,  — but  I 
can  have  no  secrets  from  you.  You  know  the  youngest 
girl,  Olivia?" 

"Yes,  go  on,"  said  Cashel,  red  and  pale  by  turns. 

"Well,  I  flirted  a  good  deal  last  winter  with  her.  Upon 
my  life,  I  did  not  intend  it  to  have  gone  so  far;  I  suppose 
it  must  have  gone  far,  though,  because  she  became  desper- 
ately in  love.     She  is  very  pretty,  certainly,  and  a  really 


266  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

good  little  girl,  —  mais^  que  voulez-vous  ?  If  I  tie  a  fly  on 
my  hook  I  can't  afford  to  see  a  flounder  or  a  perch  walk  off 
with  it  ;  it 's  the  speckled  monster  of  the  stream  I  fish  for. 
They  ought  to  have  known  that  themselves,  —  I  've  no  doubt 
they  did,  too ;  but  they  were  determined,  as  they  say  here, 
to  die  '  innocent,'  and  so  one  fine  morning  I  was  just  going 
to  join  the  hounds  at  Finglas,  when  old  Kennyfeck,  very 
trimly  dressed,  and  looking  unutterable  importance,  entered 
my  lodgings.  There  's  a  formula  for  these  kind  of  expla- 
nations —  I  've  gone  through  seven  of  these  myself,  and  I  '11 
swear  that  every  papa  has  opened  the  conference  with  a 
solemn  appeal  to  Heaven  '  that  he  never  was  aware  of  the 
attentions  shown  his  daughter,  nor  the  state  of  his  dear 
child's  affections,  till  last  evening.'  They  always  assure 
you,  besides,  that  if  they  could  give  a  million  and  a  half 
as  dowry,  you  are  the  very  man  —  the  actual  one  individual 
—  they  would  have  selected;  so  that  on  an  average  most 
young  ladies  have  met  with  at  least  half-a-dozen  parties 
whom  the  fathers  have  pronounced  to  be,  separately,  the 
one  most  valued.  Kennyfeck  behaved,  I  must  say, 
admirably.  His  wife  would  have  a  Galway  cousin  sent 
for,  and  a  duel ;  some  other  kind  friend  suggested  to  have 
me  waylaid  and  thrashed.  He  calmly  heard  me  for  about 
ten  minutes,  and  then  taking  up  his  hat  and  gloves,  said, 
*  Take  your  rule,'  and  so  it  ended.  I  dined  there  the  next 
Sunday,  — yes,  that's  part  of  my  system:  I  never  permit 
people  to  nourish  small  grudges,  and  go  about  abusing  me 
to  my  acquaintances.  If  they  will  do  that,  I  overwhelm 
them  by  their  duplicity,  as  I  am  seen  constantly  in  their 
intimacy,  and  remarkable  for  always  speaking  well  of  them, 
so  that  the  world  will  certainly  give  it  against  them.  The 
gist  of  all  this  tiresome  story  is,  that  Kennyfeck  and  the 
ladies  would,  if  occasion  served,  pay  off  the  old  debt  to  me ; 
therefore,  beware  if  you  hear  me  canvassed  in  that  quarter!  " 
Linton,  like  many  other  cunning  people,  very  often  lapsed 
into  little  confessions  of  the  tactics  by  which  he  played  his 
game  in  the  world,  and  although  Cashel  was  not  by  any 
means  a  dangerous  confidant  to  such  disclosures,  he  now 
marked  with  feelings  not  all  akin  to  satisfaction  this 
acknowledgment  of  his  friend's  skill. 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      267 

"You  'd  never  have  shown  your  face  there  again,  I  '11 
wager  a  hundred ! "  said  Linton,  reading  in  the  black  look 
of  Roland's  countenance  an  expression  he  did  not  fancy. 

"You  are  right.  I  should  have  deemed  it  unfair  to 
impose  on  the  young  lady  a  part  so  full  of  awkwardness  as 
every  meeting  must  necessitate." 

"That  comes  of  your  innocence  about  women,  my  dear 
friend ;  they  have  face  for  anything.  It  is  not  hypocrisy, 
it  is  not  that  they  do  not  feel,  and  feel  deeply,  but  their 
sense  of  command,  their  instinct  of  what  is  becoming,  is  a 
thousand  times  finer  than  ours ;  and  I  am  certain  that  when 
we  take  all  manner  of  care  to,  what  is  called,  spare  their 
feelings,  we  are  in  reality  only  sparing  them  a  cherished 
opportunity  of  exercising  a  control  over  those  feelings 
which  we  foolishly  suppose  to  be  as  ungovernable  as  our 
own." 

Either  not  agreeing  with  the  sentiment,  or  unable  to  cope 
with  its  subtlety,  Cashel  sat  some  time  without  speaking. 
From  Olivia  Kennyfeck  his  thoughts  reverted  to  one  in 
every  respect  unlike  her,  —  the  daring,  impetuous  Mari- 
tana.  He  wondered  within  himself  whether  her  bold, 
impassioned  nature  could  be  comprehended  within  Linton's 
category,  and  a  secret  sense  of  rejoicing  thrilled  through 
him  as  he  replied  to  himself  in  the  negative. 

"I  'd  wager  a  trifle,  Roland,  from  that  easy  smile  you 
wear,  that  your  memory  has  called  up  one  example,  at 
least,  unfavorable  to  my  theory.  Eh!  I  have  guessed 
aright.  Come  then,  out  with  it,  man,  — who  is  this  peerless 
paragon  of  pure  ingenuous  truth  ?  —  who  is  she  whose 
nature  is  the  transparent  crystal  where  fair  thoughts  are 
enshrined?  No  denizen  of  our  misty  northland,  I'll  be 
sworn,  but  some  fair  Mexican,  with  as  little  disguise  as 
drapery.  Confess,  I  say  —  there  is  a  confession,  I'll  be 
sworn  —  and  so  make  a  clean  breast  of  it." 

It  struck  Cashel,  while  Linton  was  speaking,  how  effect- 
ually Maritafia  herself,  by  one  proud  look,  one  haughty 
gesture,  would  have  silenced  sueli  flippant  raillery;  and 
he  could  not  help  feeling  it  a  kind  of  treason  to  their  old 
friendship  that  he  should  listen  to  it  in  patient  endurance. 

"Listen  to  me,  amigo  mio,"  said  he,  in  a  tone  of  earnest 


268  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

passion  that  seemed  almost  estranged  from  his  nature 
latterly,  —  "listen  to  me  while  I  tell  you  that  in  thotse  far- 
away countries,  whose  people  you  regard  with  such  con- 
temptuous pity,  there  are  women  — •  ay,  young  girls  —  whose 
daring  spirit  would  shame  the  courage  of  many  of  those 
fine  gentlemen  we  spend  our  lives  with;  and  I,  for  one, 
have  so  much  of  the  Indian  in  me,  as  to  think  that  courage 
is  the  first  of  virtues." 

"I  cannot  help  fancying,"  said  Linton,  with  an  almost 
imperceptible  raillery,  "that  there  are  other  qualities  would 
please  me  as  well  in  a  wife  or  a  mistress." 

"I  have  no  doubt  of  it  —  and  suit  you  better,  too,"  said 
Cashel,  savagely ;  then  hastily  correcting  himself  for  his 
rude  speech,  he  added,  "  I  believe,  in  good  earnest,  that  you 
would  as  little  sympathize  with  that  land  and  its  people  as  I 
do  with  this.  Ay,  if  you  want  a  confession,  there  's  one  for 
you.  I'm  longing  to  be  back  once  more  among  the  vast 
prairies  of  the  West,  galloping  free  after  the  dark-backed 
bisons,  and  strolling  along  in  the  silent  forests.  The  ener- 
vation of  this  life  wearies  and  depresses  me ;  worse  than 
all,  I  feel  that,  with  a  little  more  of  it,  I  shall  lose  all  energy 
and  zest  for  that  activity  of  body,  which,  to  men  like  myself, 
supplies  the  place  of  thought,  —  a  little  more  of  it,  and  I 
shall  sink  into  that  languid  routine  where  dissipation  supplies 
the  only  excitement." 

"This  is  a  mere  passing  caprice;  a  man  who  has 
wealth  —  " 

"  There  it  is,"  cried  Cashel,  interrupting  him  impetuously  ; 
"  that  is  the  eternal  burden  of  your  song.  As  if  wealth,  in 
forestalling  the  necessity  for  labor,  did  not,  at  the  same 
time,  deprive  life  of  all  the  zeal  of  enterprise.  When  I  have 
stepped  into  my  boat  to  board  a  Chilian  frigate,  I  have  had 
a  prouder  throbbing  at  my  heart  than  ever  the  sight  of  that 
banker's  check-book  has  given  me.  There  's  many  a  Gam- 
busino  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  a  happier  —  ay,  and  a  finer 
fellow,  too,  than  the  gayest  of  those  gallants  that  ever 
squandered  the  gold  he  quarried  !  But  why  go  on?  —  we  are 
speaking  in  unknown  tongues  to  each  other." 

The  tone  of  irritation  into  which,  as  it  seems  unconsciously, 
Cashel  had  fallen,  was  not  lost  on  the  keen  perception  of 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE   GALLERY."      269 

Linton,  and  he  was  not  sorry  to  feign  a  pretext  for  closing 
an  interview  whose  continuance  might  be  unpleasant. 

"  I  was  thinking  of  a  hurried  trip  down  to  Tubbermore," 
said  he,  rising;  "we  shall  have  these  guests  of  yours  in 
open  rebellion,  if  we  don't  affect  at  least  something  like 
preparation  for  their  reception.  I'll  take  Perystell  along 
with  me,  and  we'll  see  what  can  be  done  to  get  the  old 
house  in  trim." 

"Thanks,"  said  Cashel,  as  he  walked  up  and  down,  his 
thoughts  seeming  engaged  on  some  other  theme. 

"I'll  write  to  you  a  report  of  the  actual  condition  of  the 
fortress,"  said  Linton,  assuming  all  his  habitual  easy  freedom 
of  manner,  "  and  then,  if  you  think  of  anything  to  suggest, 
you'll  let  me  hear." 

"Yes,  I'll  write,"  said  Cashel,  still  musing  on  his  own 
thoughts. 

"  I  see  pretty  plainly,"  cried  Linton,  laughing,  "there's 
no  earthly  use  in  asking  you  questions  just  now,  your  brain 
being  otherwise  occupied,  and  so,  good-bye." 

"Good-bye — good-bye,"  said  Cashel,  endeavoring,  but 
not  with  a  very  good  grace  to  shake  off  his  pre-occupation 
while  he  shook  hands  with  him ;  and  Linton  descended  the 
stairs,  humming  an  opera  air,  with  all  the  seeming  light- 
heartedness  of  a  very  careless  nature. 

Cashel,  meanwhile,  sat  down,  and,  with  his  head  resting 
on  his  hand,  pondered  over  their  late  interview.  There  were 
two  circumstances  which  both  puzzled  and  distressed  him. 
How  came  it  that  Linton  should  have  written  this  note  to 
Kennyfeck  on  a  subject  which  only  seemed  to  have  actually 
suggested  itself  in  the  course  of  this  their  very  last  conver- 
sation? Had  he  already  planned  the  whole  campaign  respect- 
ing the  seat  in  Parliament  and  the  qualification,  and  was  his 
apparently  chance  allusion  to  those  topics  a  thing  studied  and 
devised  beforehand?  This,  if  true,  would  argue  very  ill  for 
his  friend's  candor  and  fair  dealing ;  and  yet,  how  explain  it 
otherwise?  Was  there  any  other  seat  open  to  him  for  which 
to  need  a  qualification  ?  If  so,  he  had  never  spoken  of  it. 
It  was  the  first  time  in  his  life  that  Cashel  had  conceived  a 
suspicion  of  one  whom  he  had  regarded  in  the  light  of 
friend,  and  only  they  who  have  undergone  a  similar  trial  can 


^70  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

understand  the  poignant  suffering  of  the  feeling ;  and  yet, 
palpable  as  the  cause  of  such  a  doubt  was,  he  had  never 
entertained  it  had  not  Linton  spoken  disparagingly  of  the 
Kennyfecks !  This  is  a  curious  trait  of  human  nature,  but 
one  worth  consideration  ;  and  while  leaving  it  to  the  elucida- 
tion the  penetration  of  each  reader  may  suggest,  we  only 
reiterate  the  fact,  that  while  Cashel  could,  without  an  effort, 
have  forgiven  the  duplicity  practised  on  himself,  the  levity 
Linton  employed  respecting  Olivia  engendered  doubts  of  his 
honor  too  grave  to  be  easily  combated. 

As  for  Linton  scarcely  had  he  quitted  Cashel,  than  he 
hastened  to  call  on  Kennyfeck ;  he  had  written  the  note 
already  alluded  to,  to  leave  at  the  house  should  the  solicitor 
be  from  home ;  but  having  left  it  by  accident  on  the  writing- 
table,  his  servant,  discovering  it  to  be  sealed  and  addressed, 
had,  without  further  question,  left  it  at  Kennyfeck's  house. 
As  Linton  went  along,  he  searched  his  pockets  for  the  epistle, 
but  consoled  himself  by  remembering  how  he  had  left  it  at 
home. 

A  few  moments  later  found  him  at  Kennyfeck's  door. 
The  attorney  was  at  home,  and,  without  any  announcement, 
Linton  entered  the  study  where  he  sat. 

"  I  was  this  instant  writing  to  you,  sir,"  said  Kennyfeck, 
rising,  and  placing  a  seat  for  him;  ''Mr  Cashel,  on  being 
informed  of  the  wish  expressed  in  your  note  —  " 

"Of  what  note?"  said  Linton,  in  a  voice  of,  for  him, 
very  unusual  agitation. 

"This  note  —  here,  sir, — dated  —  no,  by-the-by,  it  is 
not  dated,  but  brought  by  your  servant  two  hours  ago." 

Linton  took  the  paper,  glanced  his  eye  over  it,  and  then, 
in  mingled  chagrin  and  forgetfulness,  tore  it,  and  threw  the 
fragments  into  the  fire. 

"There  is  some  mistake  about  this,"  said  he,  slowly, 
and  giving  himself  time  to  consider  what  turn  he  should 
lend  it. 

"This  is  Mr.  Cashel's  reply,  sir,"  said  Kennyfeck,  after 
pausing  some  moments,  but  in  vain  for  the  explanation. 

Linton  eagerly  caught  the  letter  and  read  it  through, 
and  whatever  scruples  or  fear  he  might  have  conceived  for 
any  other   man's,    it  seemed   as   if   he   had  little  dread  of 


VISIT  TO  THE  "CASHEL  PICTURE  GALLERY."      271 

CasheFs  penetration,  for  his  assured  and  easy  smile  at  once 
showed  that  he  had  regained  his  wonted  tranquillity. 

"  You  will  then  take  the  necessary  steps,  without  delay, 
Kennyfeck,"  said  he.  "  The  elections  cannot  be  very  dis- 
tant, and  it  is  better  to  be  prepared."  As  he  spoke,  he 
threw  the  letter  back  upon  the  table,  but  in  a  moment  after- 
wards, while  taking  off  his  gloves,  managed  to  seize  it  and 
convey  it  to  his  pocket.  ''  You  know  far  better  than  I  do, 
Kennyfeck,"  resumed  he,  "  how  sharp  the  lawyers  can  be 
in  picking  out  any  flaw  respecting  title  and  so  forth ;  for 
this  reason,  be  careful  that  this  document  shall  be  as  regular 
and  binding  as  need  be." 

"  It  shall  be  submitted  for  counsel's  opinion  this  evening, 
sir  —  " 

"Not  to  Jones,  then;  I  don't  fancy  that  gentleman, 
although  I  know  he  has  some  of  your  confidence ;  send  it  to 
Hammond." 

"As  you  please,  sir." 

"Another  point.  You'll  not  insert  any  clause  respect- 
ing the  tenant  in  possession ;  it  would  only  be  hampering 
us  with  another  defence  against  some  legal  subtlety  or 
other." 

"  Mr.  Cashel  does  not  desire  this,  sir?  " 

"  Of  course  not  —  you  understand  what  the  whole  thing 
means.  Well,  I  must  say  good-bye ;  you  'II  have  all  ready 
by  the  time  I  return  to  town.  My  respects  to  the  drawing- 
room.     Adieu. 

"  That  was  bad  blunder  about  the  note,"  muttered 
Linton,  as  he  walked  along  towards  home,  "  and  might  have 
lost  the  game,  if  the  antagonist  had  any  skill  whatever." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

LINTON    VISITS    HIS    ESTATE. 

Let 's  see  the  field,  aud  mark  it  well, 
For,  here,  will  be  the  battle. 

Ottocar. 

**DoE«  tMs  path  lead  to  the  house,  friend?"  said  a  gentle- 
man whose  dress  bespoke  recent  travel,  to  the  haggard, 
discontented  figure  of  a  man  who,  seated  on  a  stone  beside 
a  low  and  broken  wicket,  was  lazily  filling  his  pipe,  and 
occasionally  throwing  stealthy  glances  at  the  stranger.  A 
short  nod  of  the  head  was  the  reply.  ''  You  belong  to  the 
place,  I  suppose?  " 

*^  Maybe  I  do  ;  and  what  then?  " 

*'  Simply  that,  as  I  am  desirous  of  going  thither,  I  should 
be  glad  of  your  showing  me  the  way." 

"Troth,  an'  there's  little  to  see  when  you  get  there," 
rejoined  the  other,  sarcastically.  "  What  are  you  by  trade, 
if  it 's  not  displeasin'  to  ye?  " 

"  That's  the  very  question  I  was  about  to  ask  you,"  said 
Linton,  for  it  was  himself ;  ''  you  appear  to  have  a  very  easy 
mode  of  life,  whatever  it  be,  since  you  are  so  indifferent 
about  earning  half-a-crown." 

Tom  Keane  arose  from  his  seat,  and  made  an  awkward 
attempt  at  saluting,  as  he  said,  — 

*''Tis  the  dusk  o' the  evening  prevented  me  seeing  ycr 
honer,  or  I  would  n't  be  so  bowld.  This  is  the  way  to  the 
Hall  sure  enough." 

"  This  place  has  been  greatly  neglected  of  late,"  said 
Linton,  as  they  walked  along  side  by  side,  and  endeavor- 
ing, by  a  tone  of  familiarity,  to  set  his  companion  at  ease. 

**  Troth,  it  is  neglected,  and  always  was  as  long  as  I 
remember.     I  was  reared  in  it,  and  I  never  knew  it  other ; 


LINTON  VISITS   HIS  ESTATE.  273 

thistles  and  docks  as  big  as  your  leg,  everywhere,  and  the 
grass  choked  up  with  moss." 

^'  How  came  it  to  be  so  completely  left  to  ruin?  " 

*' Anan!  "  muttered  he,  as  if  not  well  comprehending  the 
question,  but,  in  reality,  a  mere  device  employed  to  give  him 
more  time  to  scan  the  stranger,  and  guess  at  his  probable 
object. 

"I  was  asking,"  said  Linton,  ''how  it  happened  that  a 
fine  old  place  like  this  was  suffered  to  go  to  wreck  and 
ruin?" 

"  Faix,  it's  ould  enough,  anyhow,"  said  the  other,  with 
a  coarse  laugh. 

''And  large  too." 

"  Yer  honer  was  here  afore?  "  said  Tom,  stealthily  glancing 
at  him  under  his  brows.  "I'm  thinking  I  remember  yer 
honer's  faytures.  You  would  n't  be  the  gentleman  that 
came  down  with  Mr.  Duffy  ?  " 

"No;  this  is  my  first  visit  to  these  parts;  now,  where 
does  this  little  road  lead?  It  seems  to  be  better  cared  for 
than  the  rest,  and  the  gate,  too,  is  neatly  kept." 

"That  goes  down  to  the  cottage,  sir  —  Tubber-beg,  as 
they  call  it.  Yer  honer  isn't  Mr.  Cashel  himself?"  said 
Tom,  reverentially  taking  off  his  tattered  hat,  and  attempt- 
ing an  air  of  courtesy,  which  sat  marvellously  ill  upon 
him. 

I  have  not  that  good  luck,  my  friend." 
'T  is  good  luck  ye  may  call  it,"  sighed  Tom ;  "  a  good 
luck  that  does  n't  fall  to  many ;  but,  maybe,  ye  don't  want 
it ;  maybe  yer  honer  —  " 

"And  who  lives  in  the  cottage  of  Tubber-beg?"  said 
Linton,  interrupting. 

"  One  Corrigan,  sir;  an  old  man  and  his  granddaughter." 

"  Good  kind  of  people,  are  they?  " 

"  Ayeh  !  there  's  worse,  and  there  's  betther !  They  're  as 
proud  as  Lucifer,  and  poor  as  naygurs." 

"And  this  is  the  Hall  itself?"  exclaimed  Linton,  as  he 
stopped  directly  in  front  of  the  old  dilapidated  building, 
whose  deformities  were  only  exaggerated  by  the  patchy 
effect  of  a  faint  moonlight. 

"Ay,  there  it  is,"  grinned  Tom,  "and  no  beauty  either; 

YOU  I.  — 18 


274  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

and  ugly  as  it  looks  without,  it 's  worse  within !  There  's 
cracks  in  the  walls  ye  could  put  your  hand  through,  and  the 
windows  is  rotten,  where  they  stand." 

''  It  is  not  very  tempting,  certainly,  as  a  residence,"  said 
Linton,  smiling. 

"  Ah,  but  if  ye  heerd  the  rats,  the  way  they  do  be  racin' 
and  huntin'  each  other  at  night,  and  the  wind  bellowsin' 
down  the  chimbleys,  such  screechin'  and  yellin'  as  it  keeps, 
and  then  the  slates  rattlin',  till  ye 'd  think  the  ould  roof 
was  comin'  off  altogether,  —  be  my  soul,  there 's  many  a 
man  would  n't  take  the  property  and  sleep  a  night  in  that 
house." 

"One  would  do  a  great  deal,  notwithstanding,  for  a  fine 
estate  like  this,"  said  Linton,  dryly. 

There  was  something,  either  in  the  words  or  the  accent, 
that  touched  Tom  Keane's  sympathy  for  the  speaker ;  some 
strange  suspicion  perhaps,  that  he  was  one  whose  fortune, 
like  his  own,  was  not  beyond  the  casualties  and  chances  of 
life,  and  it  was  with  a  species  of  coarse  friendship  that  he 
said,  "  Ah,  if  we  had  it  between  us,  we  'd  do  well." 

"Right  well;  no  need  to  ask  for  better,"  said  Linton, 
with  a  heartiness  of  assent  that  made  the  other  perfectly  at 
ease.  "I'm  curious  to  have  a  look  at  the  inside  of  the 
place ;  I  suppose  there  is  no  hindrance  ?  " 

"  None  in  life!  I  live  below,  and,  faix,  there's  no  living 
anywhere  else,  for  most  of  the  stairs  is  burned,  and,  as  I 
towld  ye,  the  rats  has  upstairs  all  to  themselves.  Nancy, 
give  us  a  light,"  cried  he,  passing  into  the  dark  and  spacious 
hall,  "I'm  going  to  show  a  gentleman  the  curiosities.  I 
ax  you  honer's  pardon,  the  place  is  n't  so  clean  as  it  might 
be." 

Linton  gave  one  peep  into  the  long  and  gloomy  chamber, 
where  the  whole  family  were  huddled  together  in  all  the 
wretchedness  and  disorder  of  a  cabin,  and  at  once  drew 
back. 

"The  cows  is  on  the  other  side,"  said  the  man,  "and, 
beyond,  there  's  four  rooms  was  never  plastered  ;  and  there, 
where  you  see  the  straw,  that's  the  billiard-room,  and  in- 
side of  it  again,  there  's  a  place  for  play-actin*,  and,  more 
by  token,  there 's  a  quare  thing  there." 


LINTON  VISITS   HIS  ESTATE.  275 

"What's  that?"  asked  Linton,  whose  curiosity  was 
excited  by  the  remark. 

"Come,  and  I'll  show  yer  honer." 

So  saying,  he  led  on  through  a  narrow  corridor,  and, 
passing  through  two  or  three  dilapidated,  ruined  chambers, 
they  entered  a  large  and  spacious  apartment,  whose  sloping 
floor  at  once  showed  Linton  that  they  were  standing  on 
the  stage  of  a  theatre. 

Tom  Keane  held  up  the  flickering  light,  that  the  other 
might  see  the  torn  and  tattered  remnants  of  the  decora- 
tions, and  the  fragments  of  scenes,  as  they  flapped  to  and 
fro.  "  It 's  a  dhroll  place,  anyhow,"  said  he,  "  and  there  's 
scarce  a  bit  of  it  has  n't  a  trap-door,  or  some  other  con- 
trivance of  the  like ;  but  here 's  one  stranger  than  all ;  this 
is  what  I  towld  yer  honer  about."  He  walked,  as  he  spoke, 
to  the  back  wall  of  the  building,  where,  on  the  surface  of 
the  plaster,  a  rude  scene,  representing  a  wood,  was  painted, 
at  one  side  of  which  a  massive  pile  of  rock,  overgrown 
with  creepers,  stood.  "Now,  ye 'd  never  guess  what  was 
there,"  said  Tom,  holding  the  candle  in  different  situations 
to  exhibit  the  scene;  "and,  indeed,  I  found  it  by  chance 
myself;  see  this,"  —  and  he  pressed  a  small  but  scarcely 
perceptible  knob  of  brass  in  the  wall,  and  at  once,  what 
appeared  to  be  the  surface  of  the  rock,  slid  back,  discover- 
ing a  dark  space  behind.  "Come  on,  now,  after  me,'* 
continued  he.  Linton  followed,  and  they  ascended  a  nar- 
row stair  constructed  in  the  substance  of  the  wall,  and 
barely  sufficient  to  admit  one  person. 

Arriving  at  the  top,  after  a  few  seconds'  delay,  Tom 
opened  a  small  door,  and  they  stood  in  a  large  and  well- 
proportioned  room,  where  some  worm-eaten  bed-furniture 
yet  remained.  The  door  had  been  once,  as  a  small  frag- 
ment of  glass  showed,  the  frame  of  a  large  mirror,  and 
must  have  been  quite  beyond  the  reach  of  ordinary  powers 
of  detection. 

"That  was  a  cunning  way  to  steal  down  among  the  play 
aethers,"  said  Keane,  grinning,  while  Linton,  with  the  great- 
est attention,  remarked  the  position  of  the  door  and  its 
secret  fastening. 

"I  suppose  no  one  but  yourself  knows  of  this  stair?" 
said  Linton. 


276  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

*'Sorra  one,  sir,  except,  maybe,  some  of  the  smugglers 
that  used  to  come  here  long  ago  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Shannon.     This  was  one  of  their  hiding-places." 

"  Well,  if  this  old  mansion  conies  ever  to  be  inhabited, 
one  might  have  rare  fun  by  means  of  that  passage ;  so  be 
sure  you  keep  the  secret  well.  Let  that  be  a  padlock  on 
your  lips."  And,  so  saying,  he  took  a  sovereign  from  his 
purse  and  gave  it  to  him.     "Your  name  is  — " 

"Tom,  yer  honer  —  Tom  Keane ;  and,  by  this  and  by 
that,  I'm  ready  to  do  yer  honer's  bidding  from  this  hour 
out  —  " 

"  Well,  we  shall  be  good  friends,  I  see,"  interrupted  Lin- 
ton;  "you  may,  perhaps,  be  useful  to  me,  and  I  can  also 
be  able  to  serve  you.  Now,  which  is  the  regular  entrance 
to  this  chamber?  " 

"There,  sir;  it's  the  last  door  as  ye  see  in  the  long 
passage.  Them  is  all  bedrooms  alone  there,  but  it's  not 
safe  to  walk  down,   for  the  floor  is  rotten." 

Linton  noted  down  in  a  memory  far  from  defective  the 
circumstances  of  the  chamber,  and  then  followed  his  guide 
through  the  remainder  of  the  house,  which  in  every  quarter 
presented  the  same  picture  of  ruin  and  decay. 

"The  bit  of  candle  is  near  out,"  said  Tom,  "but  sure 
there  is  n't  much  more  to  be  seen  ;  there  's  rooms  there  was 
never  opened,  and  more  on  the  other  side,  the  same.  The 
place  is  as  big  as  a  barrack,  and  here  we  are  once  more  on 
the  grand  stair." 

For  once,  the  name  was  not  ill  applied,  as,  constructed 
of  Portland  stone,  and  railed  with  massive  banisters  of 
iron,  it  presented  features  of  solidity  and  endurance,  in 
marked  contrast  to  the  other  portions  of  the  edifice.  Lin- 
ton cast  one  more  glance  around  the  gloomy  entrance,  and 
sallied  forth  into  the  free  air.  "I'll  see  you  to-morrow, 
Tom,"  said  he,  "  and  we'll  have  some  talk  together.  Good 
night." 

"  Good  night,  and  good  luck  to  yer  honer  ;  but  won't  you 
let  me  see  your  honer  out  of  the  grounds,  —  as  far  as  the  big 
gate,  at  least?  " 

"Thanks;  I  know  the  road  perfectly  already,  and  I 
rather  like  a  lonely  stroll  of  a  fine  night  like  this." 

Tom,  accordingly,  reiterated  his  good  wishes,  and  Linton 


LINTON  VISITS  HIS  ESTATE.  277 

was  suffered  to  pursue  his  way  unaccompanied.  Increasing 
his  speed  as  he  arrived  at  a  turn  of  the  road,  he  took  the 
path  which  led  off  the  main  approach,  and  led  down  by  the 
river-side  to  the  cottage  of  Tubber-beg.  There  was  a  feeling 
of  strong  interest  which  prompted  him  to  see  this  cottage, 
which  now  he  might  call  his  own  ;  and  as  he  went,  he  regarded 
the  little  clumps  of  ornamental  planting,  the  well-kept  walks, 
the  neat  palings,  the  quaint  benches  beneath  the  trees,  with 
very  different  feelings  from  those  he  had  bestowed  on  the 
last-visited  scene.  Nor  was  he  insensible  to  the  landscape 
beauty  which  certain  vistas  opened,  and,  seen  even  by  the 
faint  light  of  a  new  moon,  were  still  rich  promises  of  pictur- 
esque situation. 

Suddenly,  and  without  any  anticipation,  he  found  himself 
on  turning  a  little  copse  of  evergreens,  in  front  of  the  cot- 
tage, and  almost  beneath  the  shadow  of  its  deep  porch. 
Whatever  his  previous  feelings  of  self-interest  in  every  detail 
around,  they  were  speedily  routed  by  the  scene  before  him. 

In  a  large  and  well  furnished  drawing-room,  where  a 
single  lamp  was  shining,  sat  an  old  man  in  an  easy-chair, 
his  features,  his  attitude,  and  his  whole  bearing  indicating 
the  traces  of  recent  illness.  Beside  him,  on  a  low  stool 
almost  at  his  feet,  was  a  young  girl  of  singular  beauty,  —  the 
plastic  grace  of  her  figure,  the  easy  motion  of  the  head,  as 
from  time  to  time  she  raised  it  to  throw  upwards  a  look  of 
affectionate  reverence,  and  the  long,  loose  masses  of  her 
hair,  which,  accidentally  unfastened,  fell  on  either  shoulder, 
making  rather  one  of  those  ideals  which  a  Raphael  can  con- 
ceive than  a  mere  creature  of  every-day  existence.  Although 
late  autumn,  the  windows  lay  open  to  the  ground,  for,  as  yet, 
no  touch  of  coming  winter  had  visited  this  secluded  and 
favored  spot.  In  the  still  quiet  of  the  night,  her  voice,  for 
she  alone  spoke,  could  be  heard  ;  at  first,  the  mere  murmur  of 
the  accents  reached  Linton's  ears,  but  even  from  them  he 
could  gather  the  tone  of  cheering  and  encouragement  in 
which  she  spoke.  At  length  he  heard  her  say,  in  a  voice  of 
almost  tremulous  enthusiasm,  "It  was  so  like  you,  dear 
papa,  not  to  tell  this  Mr.  Cashel  that  you  had  yourself  a 
claim,  and,  as  many  think,  a  rightful  one,  to  this  same 
estate,  and  thus  not  trouble  the  stream  of  his  munificence." 


278  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'  Nay,  child,  it  had  been  as  impolitic  as  unworthy  to  do 
so,"  said  the  old  man;  "  he  who  stoops  to  receive  a  favor 
should  detract  nothing  from  the  generous  sentiment  of  the 
granter." 

"  For  my  part,  I  would  tell  him,"  said  she,  eagerly,  "that 
his  noble  conduct  has  forever  barred  my  prosecuting  such  a 
claim,  and  that  if,  to-morrow,  the  fau'est  proofs  of  my  right 
should  reach  me,  I'd  throw  them  in  the  fire." 

"  To  get  credit  for  such  self-sacrifice,  Mary,  one  must  be 
independent  of  all  hypothesis ;  one  must  do,  and  not  merely 
promise.  Now,  it  would  be  hard  to  expect  Mr.  Cashel  to 
feel  the  same  conviction  I  do,  that  this  confiscation  was 
repealed  by  letters  under  the  hand  of  Majesty  itself.  The 
Brownes,  through  whom  Cashel  inherits,  were  the  stewards 
of  my  ancestors,  entrusted  with  all  their  secret  affairs,  and 
cognizant  of  all  their  family  matters.  From  the  humble 
position  of  dependents,  they  suddenly  sprang  into  wealth  and 
fortune,  and  ended  by  purchasing  the  very  estate  they  once 
lived  on  as  day-laborers,  —  sold  as  it  was,  like  all  confiscated 
estates,  for  a  mere  fraction  of  its  value." 

*'  Oh,  base  ingratitude  !  " 

''Worse  still;  it  is  said,  and  with  great  reason  to  believe 
it  true,  that  Hammond  Browne,  who  was  sent  over  to 
London  by  my  great  grandfather  to  negotiate  with  the 
Government,  actually  received  the  free  pardon  and  the 
release  of  the  confiscation,  but  concealed  and  made  away 
with  both,  and,  to  prevent  my  grandfather  being  driven  to 
further  pursuit,  gave  him  the  lease  of  this  cottage  on  the  low 
terms  we  continue  to  hold  it." 

A  low,  faint  cough  from  the  old  man  warned  his  grand- 
daughter of  the  dangers  of  the  night  air,  and  she  arose  and 
closed  the  windows.  They  still  continued  their  convert 
sation,  but  Linton,  unable  to  hear  more,  returned  to  his 
inn,  deeply  reflecting  over  the  strange  disclosures  he  had 
overheard. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

BREAKFAST   WITH    MR.    CORRIGAN. 

How  cold  is  treachery. 

Play. 

"Who  can  Mr.  Linton  be,  my  dear?"  said  old  Mr.  Corri- 
gan,  as  he  sat  at  breakfast  the  next  day,  and  pondered  over 
the  card  which,  with  a  polite  request  for  an  interview,  the 
servant  had  just  delivered.  "  I  cannot  remember  the  name, 
if  I  ever  heard  it  before ;  but  should  we  not  invite  him  to 
join  us  at  breakfast?  " 

''  Where  is  he,  Simon?  "  asked  Miss  Leicester. 

''At  the  door,  miss,  and  a  very  nice-looking  gentleman 
as  ever  I  saw." 

"  Say  that  I  have  been  ill,  Simon,  and  cannot  walk  to  the 
door,  and  beg  he'll  be  kind  enough  to  come  in  to  breakfast." 

With  a  manner  where  ease  and  deference  were  admirably 
blended,  Linton  entered  the  room,  and  apologizing  for  his 
intrusion,  said,  "  I  have  come  down  here,  sir,  on  a  little 
business  matter  for  my  friend  Roland  Cashel,  and  I  could 
not  think  of  returning  to  town  without  making  the  acquaint- 
ance of  one  for  whom  my  friend  has  already  conceived  the 
strongest  feeling  of  interest  and  regard.  It  will  be  the  first 
question  I  shall  hear  when  I  get  back,  '  Well,  what  of  Mr. 
Corrigan,  and  how  is  he?  '  " 

While  making  this  speech,  which  he  delivered  in  a  tone 
of  perfect  frankness,  he  seemed  never  to  have  noticed  the 
presence  of  Miss  Leicester,  who  had  retired  a  little  as  he 
entered  the  room,  and  now,  on  being  introduced  to  her, 
made  his  acknowledgments  with  a  grave  courtesy. 

"And  so  our  young  landlord  is  thinking  of  taking  up  his 
residence  amongst  us?"  said  Corrigan,  as  Linton  assumed 
his  place  at  the  breakfast-table. 


280  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'  For  a  few  weeks  he  purposes  to  do  so,  but  I  question 
greatly  if  the  tranquil  pleasures  and  homely  duties  of  a 
country  life  will  continue  long  to  attract  him ;  he  is  very 
young,  and  the  world  so  new  to  him,  that  he  will  scarcely 
settle  down  anywhere,  or  to  anything,  for  some  time  to 
come." 

"Experience  is  a  capital  thing,  no  doubt,  Mr.  Linton; 
but  I  'd  rather  trust  the  generous  impulses  of  a  good-hearted 
3'outh  in  a  country  like  this,  long  neglected  by  its  gentry. 
Let  him  once  take  an  interest  in  the  place  and  the  people, 
and  I  '11  vouch  for  the  rest.     Is  he  a  sportsman?  " 

"He  vms^  when  in  Mexico;  but  buffalo  and  antelope 
hunting  are  very  different  from  what  this  country  offers." 

*'  Does  he  read?  —  is  he  studious?  "  said  Mary. 

"  Not  even  a  newspaper.  Miss  Leicester.  He  is  a  fine, 
high-spirited,  dashing  fellow,  and  if  good-nature  and  honor- 
able intentions  could  compensate  for  defective  education  and 
training,  he  would  be  perfect." 

"They'll  go  very  far,  depend  on  it,  Mr.  Linton.  In 
these  days,  a  man  of  wealth  can  buy  almost  anything. 
Good  sense,  judgment,  skill,  are  all  in  the  market;  but  a 
generous  nature  and  a  warm  heart  are  God's  gifts,  and  can 
neither  be  grafted  nor  transplanted." 

"You'll  like  him,  I'm  certain,  Mr.  Corrigan." 

"  I  know  I  shall.  I  have  reason  for  the  anticipation ; 
Tiernay  told  me  the  handsome  words  he  used  when  accord- 
ing me  a  favor  —  and  here  comes  the  doctor  himself."  And 
as  he  spoke.  Dr.  Tiernay  entered  the  room,  his  flushed  face 
and  hurried  breathing  bespeaking  a  hasty  walk.  "Good- 
morrow,  Tiernay.  Mr.  Linton,  let  me  present  our  doctor ; 
not  the  least  among  our  local  advantages,  as  you  can  tell 
your  friend  Mr.  Cashel." 

"We've  met  before,  sir,"  said  Tiernay,  scanning,  with  a 
steady  gaze,  the  countenance  which,  wreathed  in  smiles, 
seemed  to  invite  rather  than  dread  recognition. 

"I  am  happy  to  be  remembered.  Dr.  Tiernay,"  said 
Linton,  "although  I  fancy  our  meeting  was  too  brief  for 
much  acquaintance;  but  we'll  know  each  other  better,  I 
trust,  hereafter." 

*'No  need,  sir,"  whispered  Tiernay,  as  he  passed  close 


BEEAKFAST  WITH  MR.   CORRIGAN.  281 

to  his  side;  "I  believe  we  read  each  other  perfectly 
already." 

Linton  smiled,  and  bowed,  as  though  accepting  the 
speech  in  some  complimentary  sense,  and  turned  towards 
Miss  Leicester,  who  was  busily  arranging  some  dried 
plants  in  a  volume. 

"These  are  not  specimens  of  this  neighborhood?"  said 
Linton,  taking  up  some  heaths  which  are  seldom  found 
save  in  Alpine  regions. 

"Yes,  sir,"  interrupted  Tiernay,  "you  '11  be  surprised  to 
find  here  productions  which  would  not  seem  native  to  these 
wilds." 

"If  you  take  an  interest  in  such  things,"  said  old  Corri- 
gan,  "you  can't  have  a  better  guide  than  my  granddaughter 
and  Tiernay;  they  know  every  crag  and  glen  for  twenty 
miles  round;  all  I  bargain  for  is,  don't  be  late  back  for 
dinner.  You  '11  give  us  your  company,  I  hope,  sir,  at 
six?" 

Linton  assented,  with  a  cordial  pleasure  that  delighted 
his  inviter;  and  Mary,  so  happy  to  see  the  gratified  expres- 
sion of  her  grandfather's  face,  looked  gratefully  at  the 
stranger  for  his  polite  compliance. 

"A  word  with  you,  sir,"  whispered  Tiernay  in  Linton's 
ear;  and  he  passed  out  into  the  little  flower-garden,  saying, 
as  he  went,  "I  '11  show  Mr.  Linton  the  grounds,  Miss  Mary, 
and  you  shall  not  have  to  neglect  your  household  cares." 

Linton  followed  him  without  speaking,  nor  was  a  word 
interchanged  between  them  till  they  had  left  the  cottage  a 
considerable  distance  behind  them.  "Well,  sir,"  said 
Linton,  coming  to  a  halt,  and  speaking  in  a  voice  of  cold 
and  steadfast  purpose,  "how  far  do  you  propose  that  I  am 
to  bear  you  company  ?  " 

"Only  till  we  are  beyond  the  danger  of  being  overheard," 
said  Tiernay,  turning  round.  "Here  will  do  perfectly. 
You  will  doubtless  say,  sir,  that  in  asking  you  for  an 
explanation  of  why  I  see  you  in  this  cottage,  that  I  am 
exceeding  the  bounds  of  what  right  and  duty  alone  impose." 

"You  anticipate  me  precisely,"  said  Linton,  sarcastically, 
"and  to  save  you  the  embarrassment  of  so  obviously 
impertinent  a  proceeding,  I  beg  to  say  that  I  shall  neither 


282  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

afford  you  the  slightest  satisfaction  on  this  or  any  other 
subject  of  inquiry.     Now,  sir,  what  next?  " 

"Do  you  forget  the  occasion  of  our  first  meeting?  "  said 
the  doctor,  who  actually  was  abashed  beneath  the  practised 
effrontery  of  his  adversary. 

"Not  in  the  least,  sir.  You  permitted  yourself  on  that 
occasion  to  take  a  liberty,  which  from  your  age  and  other 
circumstances  I  consented  to  pass  unnoticed.  I  shall  not 
always  vouch  for  the  same  patient  endurance  on  my  part; 
and  so  pray  be  cautious  how  you  provoke  it." 

"It  w^as  at  that  meeting,"  said  the  doctor,  with  passionate 
earnestness,  "that  I  heard  you  endeavor  to  dissuade  your 
friend  from  a  favorable  consideration  of  that  man's  claim, 
whose  hospitality  you  now  accept  of.  It  was  with  an 
insolent  sneer  at  Mr.  Cashel's  simplicity  —  " 

"Pray  stop,  sir;  not  too  far,  I  beseech  you.  The  whole 
affair,  into  which  by  some  extraordinary  self-delusion  you 
consider  yourself  privileged  to  obtrude,  is  very  simple. 
This  cottage  and  the  grounds  appertaining  to  it  are  mine. 
This  old  gentleman,  for  whom  I  entertain  the  highest 
respect,  is  my  tenant.  The  legal  proof  of  what  I  say,  I 
promise  to  submit  to  you  within  the  week ;  and  it  was  to 
rescue  Mr.  Cashel  from  the  inconsistency  of  pledging  him- 
self to  what  was  beyond  his  powers  of  performance,  that  I 
interfered.  Your  very  ill-advised  zeal  prevented  this; 
and  rather  than  increase  the  awkwardness  of  a  painful 
situation,  I  endured  a  very  unprovoked  and  impertinent 
remark.  Now,  sir,  you  have  the  full  explanation  of  my 
conduct,  and  my  opinion  of  yours ;  and  I  see  no  reason  to 
continue  the  interview."  So  saying,  Linton  touched  his 
hat  and  turned  back  towards  the  cottage. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

TUBBERMORE    TRANSFORMED. 
Ay,  sir,  the  knave  is  a  deep  one. 


Old  Play. 


To  save  our  reader  the  tedious  task  of  following  Mr.  Lin- 
ton's movements,  however  necessary  to  our  story  some 
insight  into  them  may  be,  we  take  the  shorter,  and  therefore 
pleasanter  course,  of  submitting  one  of  his  own  brief  notes 
to  Roland  Cashel,  written  some  three  days  after  his  arrival 
at  Tubbermore :  — 

"  Still  here,  my  dear  Cashel,  still  in  this  Tipperary  Siberia,  where 
our  devotion  to  your  service  has  called  and  still  retains  us,  —  and 
what  difficulties  and  dangers  have  been  ours  !  What  a  land  !  —  and 
what  a  people  !  Of  a  truth,  I  no  longer  envy  the  rich,  landed  pro- 
prietor, as,  in  my  ignorance,  I  used  to  do  some  weeks  back.  To 
begin  :  Your  Chateau  de  Tubbermore,  which  seems  a  cross  between 
a  jail  and  a  county  hospital  without,  and  is  a  downright  ruin  within, 
stands  in  a  park  of  thistles  and  docks  whose  luxuriant  growth  are  a 
contemptuous  reflection  upon  your  trees,  which  positively  don't 
grow  at  all.  So  ingeniously  placed  is  this  desirable  residence,  that 
although  the  country,  the  river,  and  the  mountains,  offer  some  fine 
landscape  effects,  not  a  vestige  of  any  of  them  can  be  seen  from  your 
windows.  Your  dining-room,  late  a  nursery  for  an  interesting  family 
of  small  pigs,  looks  out  upon  the  stables,  picturesque  as  they  are  in 
fissured  walls  and  tumbling  rafters  ;  and  one  of  the  drawing-rooms  — 
they  call  it  the  V)lue  room,  a  tint  so  likely  to  be  caught  up  by  the 
spectators  —  opens  upon  a  garden,  —  but  what  a  garden  !  Fruit- 
trees,  there  are  none — stay,  1  am  unjust,  two  have  been  left  stand- 
ing to  give  support  to  a  clothes-line,  where  the  amiable  household  of 
your  care-taker,  Mr.  Cane,  are  pictorially  represented  by  various 
garments,  crescendo  from  the  tunic  of  tender  years  to  the  full-grown 
*toga,'  But  why  enumerate  small  details?  Let  me  rather  deal  in 
negatives,  and  tell  you  there  is  not  a  whole  pane  of  glass  in   the 


284  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

entire  building,  not  a  grate,  few  doors,  little  flooring,  and  actually 
no  roof.  The  slates,  where  there  are  such,  are  so  loose  that  the 
wind  rattles  among  them  like  the  keys  of  a  gigantic  piano,  and  usu- 
ally ends  with  a  grand  Freischutz  effect,  which  uncovers  a  room  or 
two.  The  walls  are  everywhere  so  rotten,  that  if  you  would  break 
a  loop-hole,  you  throw  down  enough  to  drive  a  '  break  '  through  ; 
and  as  for  the  chimneys,  the  jackdaw  may  plead  the  Statute  of  Lim- 
itations, and  defy  to  surrender  a  possession  which  certainly  dates 
from  the  past  century !  Perystell  is  in  despair ;  he  goes  about 
sticking  his  thumb  through  the  rotting  timbers,  and  knocking  down 
partitions  with  a  kick  of  his  foot,  and  exclaiming  against  the  igno- 
rance of  the  last  age  of  architects,  who,  I  take  it,  were  pretty  much 
like  their  successors,  save  in  the  thefts  committed  from  Greek  and 
Roman  models.  This  is  not  tempting,  nor  the  remedy  for  it  easy. 
Stone  and  mortar  are  as  great  luxuries  here  as  ice-cream  at  Calcutta; 
there  are  no  workmen,  or  the  few  are  merely  artificers  in  mud. 
Timber  is  an  exotic,  glass  and  iron  are  traditions ;  so  that  if  you 
desire  to  be  an  Irish  country  gentleman,  your  pursuit  of  territorial 
ascendancy  has  all  the  merit  of  difficulty.  Xow,  quefairef  Shall 
we  restore,  or,  rather,  rebuild,  or  shall  we  put  forty  pounds  of  Dart- 
ford  gunpowder  in  one  of  the  cellars,  and  blow  the  whole  concern  to 
him  who  must  have  devised  it  ?  Such  is  the  course  I  should  certainly 
adopt  myself,  and  only  feel  regret  at  the  ignoble  service  of  the  honest 
explosive. 

"  Perystell,  like  all  his  tribe,  is  a  pedant,  and  begins  by  asking 
for  two  years,  and  I  won't  say  how  many  thousand  pounds.  My 
reply  is,  '  Months  and  hundreds,  vice  years  and  thousands '  —  and  so 
we  are  at  issue.  I  know  your  anxiety  to  receive  the  people  you  have 
invited,  and  I  feel  how  fruitless  it  would  be  to  tell  you  with  what 
apologies  I,  if  in  your  place,  should  put  them  off ;  so  pray  instruct 
me  how  to  act.  Shall  I  commission  Perystell  to  go  to  work  in  all 
form,  and  meanwhile  make  a  portion  of  the  edifice  habitable?  or 
shall  I  —  and  I  rather  admire  the  plan  —  get  a  corps  of  stage  arti- 
ficers from  Drury  Lane,  and  dress  up  the  house  as  they  run  up  a 
provincial  theatre  ?  I  know  you  don't  care  about  cost,  which,  after 
all,  is  the  only  real  objection  to  the  scheme  ;  and  if  you  incline  to  my 
suggestion  about  the  fireworks  for  a  finish,  it  will  be  perfectly  appro- 
priate. 

"  '  My  own  cottage '  —  so  far,  at  least,  as  I  could  see  of  it  without 
intruding  on  the  present  occupant  —  is  very  pretty :  roses,  and  honey- 
suckle, and  jasmines,  and  such-like  ruralities,  actually  enveloping  it. 
It  is  well  placed,  too,  in  a  snug  little  nook,  sheltered  from  the  north, 
and  with  a  peep  at  the  river  in  front,  — just  the  sort  of  place  where  baf- 
fled ambition  and  disappointment  would  retire  to  ;  and  where,  doubt- 
less, some  of  these  days,  Tom  Linton,  not  being  selected  by  her 


TUBBERMORE  TRANSFORMED.  285 

Majesty  as  Chief  Secretary  for  the  Home  Office,  will  be  announced 
in  the  papers  to  have  withdrawn  from  public  life,  '  to  prosecute  the 
more  congenial  career  of  literature.'  There  is  a  delicious  little 
boudoir,  too,  —  such  is  it  at  present,  you  or  I  would  make  it  a  smok- 
ing crib,  —  looking  over  the  Shannon,  and  with  a  fine  bold  mountain, 
well  wooded,  beyond.  I  should  like  a  gossip  with  you  in  that  bay- 
window,  in  the  mellow  hour,  when  confidence,  which  hates  candles, 
is  at  its  full. 

"  Have  I  told  you  everything?  I  scarcely  know,  my  head  is  so 
full  of  roof-trees,  rafters,  joists,  gables,  and  parapets.  Halt !  I  was 
forgetting  a  pretty  —  that  is  not  the  word  —  a  handsome  girl, 
daughter  or  granddaughter  of  our  tenant,  Mr.  Conigan,  one  of  those 
saintly,  virginal  heads  Raphael  painted,  with  finely  pencilled  eye- 
brows, delicate  beyond  expression  above;  severe,  in  the  cold,  un- 
impassioned  character  of  the  mouth  and  lips  ;  clever,  too,  or,  what 
comes  to  nearly  the  same,  odd  and  eccentric,  being  educated  by  an 
old  St.  Omer  priest  who  taught  her  Latin,  French,  Italian,  with  a 
dash  of  theology,  and,  better  than  all,  to  sing  Proven9al  songs  to  her 
own  accompaniment  on  the  piano.  You  '11  say,  with  such  companion- 
ship, Siberia  is  not  so  bad  after  all,  nor  would  it,  perhaps,  if  we  had 
nothing  else  to  think  of.  Besides,  she  is  as  proud  as  an  Austrian 
archduchess,  has  the  blood  of,  God  knows  how  many,  kings  —  Irish, 
of  course  —  in  her  veins,  and  looks  upon  me,  Saxon  that  I  am,  as 
a  mountain-ash  might  do  on  a  mushroom." 

There  was  no  erasure  but  oue,  and  that  very  slight,  and 
seeming  unimportant;  he  had  written  Tubber-beg  at  the  top 
of  the  letter,  and,  perceiving  it,  had  changed  it  to  Tubber- 
more,  the  fact  being  that  he  had  already  established  himself 
as  an  inmate  of  the  "  Cottage,"  and  a  guest  of  Mr.  Corri- 
gan.  "We  need  not  dwell  on  the  arts  by  which  Linton 
accomplished  this  object,  to  which,  indeed,  Mr.  Corrigan's 
hospitable  habits  contributed  no  difficulty.  The  "doctor" 
alone  could  have  interposed  any  obstacle ;  and  he,  knowing 
the  extent  of  Linton's  power,  did  not  dare  to  do  so,  content- 
ing himself  to  watch  narrowly  all  his  proceedings,  and  warn 
his  friend  whenever  warning  could  no  longer  be  delayed. 

Without  enjoying  the  advantages  of  a  careful  education, 
Linton's  natural  quickness  counterfeited  knowledge  so  well 
that  few,  in  every-day  intercourse,  could  detect  the  imposi- 
tion. He  never  read  a  book  through,  but  he  skimmed  some 
thousands,  and  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  that  process  so 
popular  in  our  Universities,  and  technically  termed  "cram- 


286  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

ming "  an  author.  In  this  way,  there  were  few  subjects 
on  which  he  could  not  speak  fairly,  —  a  faculty  to  which 
considerable  fluency  and  an  easy  play  of  fancy  lent  great 
assistance.  His  great  craft,  however,  was  —  and  whatever 
may  be  said  on  the  subject,  it  would  seem  the  peculiar  gift 
of  certain  organizations  —  that  he  was  able,  in  an  incon- 
ceivably short  time,  to  worm  himself  into  the  confidence  of 
almost  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  His  natural 
good  sense,  his  singularly  clear  views,  his  ever  ready  sym- 
pathy, but,  more  than  all,  the  dexterity  with  which  he  could 
affect  acquaintance  with  topics  he  was  all  but  totally  igno- 
rant of,  pointed  him  out  as  the  very  person  to  hear  the 
secrets  of  a  family. 

Mr.  Corrigan  was  not  one  to  exact  any  great  efforts  of 
Linton's  tact  in  this  walk;  his  long  isolation  from  the 
world,  joined  to  a  character  naturally  frank,  made  him  com- 
municative and  open ;  and  before  Linton  had  passed  a  week 
under  his  roof,  he  had  heard  all  the  circumstances  of  the  old 
forfeiture,  and  the  traditionary  belief  of  the  family  that  it 
had  been  withdrawn  under  a  special  order  of  the  King  in 
council. 

"You  are  quite  right,"  said  Linton,  one  night,  as  this 
theme  had  been  discussed  for  some  hours,  "never  to  have 
alluded  to  this  in  any  correspondence  with  Cashel.  His 
hasty  and  excitable  temper  would  have  construed  the  whole 
into  a  threat;  and  there  is  no  saying  how  he  might  have 
resented  it." 

"I  did  not  speak  of  it  for  a  very  different  reason,"  said 
old  Corrigan,  proudly;  "I  had  just  accepted  a  favor  —  and 
a  great  one  —  at  his  hands,  and  I  would  not  tarnish  the 
lustre  of  his  noble  conduct  by  even  the  possibility  of  self- 
interest." 

Linton  was  silent;  a  struggle  of  some  kind  seemed 
working  within  him,  but  he  did  not  speak,  and  at  last  saun- 
tered from  the  room,  and  passed  out  into  the  little  garden 
in  front. 

He  had  not  gone  far,  when  he  heard  a  light  footstep  on 
the  gravel  behind  him.  He  turned,  and  saw  Mary 
Leicester. 

"I  have  followed  you,  Mr.  Linton,"  said  she,  in  a  voice 


TUBBERMORE  TRANSFORMED.  287 

whose  agitation  was  perceptible,  "because  I  thought  it 
possible  that  some  time  or  other,  iu  your  close  intimacy 
with  Mr.  Cashel,  you  might  allude  to  this  topic,  and  I  know 
what  distress  such  a  communication  would  occasion  to  my 
grandfather.     Our  claim  —  if  the  word  be  not  inapplicable 

—  can  never  be  revived;  for  myself,  there  is  no  condition 
of  privation  I  would  not  rather  meet,  than  encounter  the 
harassing  vicissitudes  of  a  struggle  which  should  embitter 
my  poor  dear  grandfather's  few  years  on  earth.  The  very 
mention  of  the  theme  is  sure  to  render  him  irritable  and 
unhappy.  Promise  me,  then,  to  avoid  the  subject  as  much 
as  possible  here,  and  never  to  advert  to  it  elsewhere." 

"Should  I  not  be  doing  you  a  gross  injustice  by  such  a 
pledge?"  said  Linton,  mildly. 

"I  can  endure  that;  I  cannot  support  the  alternative. 
Make  me  this  promise." 

"I  make  it,  truly  and  solemnly;  would  it  were  in  my 
power  to  pledge  myself  to  aught  of  real  service  to  Miss 
Leicester." 

"There  is  one  such,"  said  Mary,  after  a  pause,  "and 
yet  I  am  ashamed  to  ask  it,  —  ashamed  of  the  presump- 
tion it  would  imply,  —  and  yet  I  feel  acquitted  to  my  own 
heart." 

"What  is  it?  —  only  tell  me  how  I  can  serve  you,"  said 
Linton,  passionately. 

"I  have  scarce  courage  for  the  avowal,"  said  she,  in  a 
low,  faint  voice.  "It  is  not  that  my  self-love  can  be 
wounded  by  any  judgment  that  may  be  pronounced;  it  is 
rather  that  I  dread  failure  for  itself.  Li  a  word,  Mr. 
Linton,  certain  circumstances  of  fortune  have  pressed  upon 
my  grandfather's  resources,  some  of  which  I  am  aware  of 

—  of  others  ignorant.  So  much,  however,  do  I  know,  that 
the  comforts,  so  necessary  to  his  age  and  habits,  have  dim- 
inished one  by  one,  each  year  seeing  some  new  privations, 
where  increasing  infirmity  would  demand  more  ease.  In 
this  emergency,  I  have  thought  of  an  effort  —  you  will  smile 
at  the  folly,  perhaps,  but  be  lenient  for  the  motive  —  I  have 
endeavored  to  make  some  of  the  many  reminiscences  of  his 
own  early  years  contribute  to  his  old  age,  and  have  written 
certain  short  sketches  of  the  time  when,  as  a  youth,  he 


288  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

served  as  a  soldier  of  the  body-guard  of  Louis  XVI.  I 
know  how  utterly  valueless  they  are  in  a  literary  point  of 
view,  but  I  have  thought  that,  as  true  pictures  of  a  time 
now  probably  passed  away  never  to  return  again,  they 
might  have  their  interest.  Such  is  my  secret.  My  entreaty 
is,  to  ask  of  you  to  look  at  them,  and,  if  not  utterly 
unworthy,  to  assist  me  regarding  their  publication." 

"I  not  only  promise  this,  but  I  can  pledge  myself  to  the 
success,"  said  Linton;  "such  recitals  of  life  and  manners 
as  I  have  listened  to  from  Mr.  Corrigan  would  be  invalu- 
able ;  we  know  so  little  in  England  —  " 

"Nay,  let  me  stop  you;  they  are  written  in  French.  My 
hope  is  to  procure  their  insertion  in  some  French  journal, 
as  is  the  custom  now-a-days.  Here  they  are,"  said  she, 
handing  him  a  packet  with  a  trembling  hand.  "  I  have  but 
to  say,  that  if  they  be  all  I  fear  them,  you  will  be  too  true 
a  friend  to  peril  me  by  a  rejection."  And  without  waiting 
for  a  reply,  she  hurried  back  to  the  house. 

Many  minutes  had  not  elapsed  ere  Linton  found  himself 
in  his  room,  with  the  open  manuscript  before  him.  It  was 
quite  true,  he  had  not  in  anticipation  conceived  a  very 
high  idea  of  Miss  Leicester's  efforts,  because  his  habit, 
like  that  of  a  great  number  of  shrewd  people,  was  to  regard 
all  amateur  performances  as  very  inferior,  and  that  only 
they  who  give  themselves  wholly  up  to  any  pursuit  attain 
even  mediocrity.  He  had  not,  however,  read  many  pages 
ere  he  was  struck  by  the  evidence  of  high  ability.  The 
style  was  everywhere  simple,  chaste,  and  elegant;  the  illus- 
trations natural  and  graceful;  and  the  dialogue,  when, 
occurring,  marked  by  all  the  epigrammatic  smartness  which 
characterized  the  era. 

The  sketches  also  had  the  merit  of  life-pictures,  —  real 
characters  of  the  day,  being  drawn  with  a  vigor  that  only 
actual  knowledge  could  impart.  All  these  excellences 
Linton  could  perceive  and  estimate;  but  there  were  many 
very  far  above  his  power  of  appreciation.  As  it  was,  he 
read  on,  fascinated  by  the  interest  the  scenes  inspired,  nor 
ceased  till  the  last  page  was  completed,  when,  throwing 
himself  on  his  bed,  he  fell  soon  asleep,  and  dreamed  of 
Mary  Leicester. 


TUBBERMORE   TRANSFORMED.  289 

His  very  first  care,  on  waking,  was  to  resume  the  manu- 
script, and  see  how  far  the  impression  first  made  might 
be  corroborated  by  afterthought.  It  was  while  reading,  that 
the  post  had  just  arrived,  bringing,  among  other  letters,  one 
in  Phillis's  hand,  which  was,  though  brief,  significant:  — 

Sir,  — There  is  no  time  to  be  lost.     The  K.'s  are  here  every  day, 

and  Lord  C spends  every  morning  here  till  three  or  four  O'C. 

Mr.  Meek  has  written  to  ask  for  Mr.  C.'s  interest  in  the  borough; 
what  answer  given,  not  known.  Mr.  C.  would  seem  to  be  again 
pressed  for  money.  He  was  here  twice  yesterday.  The  rumor  is 
that  Mr.  C.  will  marry  Miss  O.  K.  immediately.  Pearse  overheard 
Mr.  K.  warning  Mr.  C.  against  Mr.  Linton  as  a  very  dangerous  in- 
timate. Ld.  C.  F.  said,  when  sitting  here  yesterday,  "  I  have  known 
Master  Tom  some  years,  and  never  knew  the  man  he  did  not  help  to 
ruin  with  whom  he  had  any  influence."  Mr.  C.  said  something  about 
being  on  his  guard,  and  "suspecting;"  but  the  exact  words  were 
not  heard.  Lord  K.  and  Lady  breakfasted  with  Mr.  C.  to-day,  and 
stayed  till  two.  Lady  K.  swept  down  with  her  dress  a  Sevres  jar  in 
the  boudoir;  heard  Mr.  C.  say  that  he  would  not  give  the  fragments 
for  the  most  precious  vase  in  the  Tuileries.  Lord  K.  asked  what  he 
said,  and  her  Ladyship  replied  that  Mr.  C.'s  vase  was  unhappily  the 
fellow  of  one  in  the  Tuileries,  and  looked  confused  at  the  accident. 
Mr.  Linton  is  warned  to  lose  no  time,  as  Mr.  C.  is  hourly  falling 
deeper  into  other  influences,  and  every  day  something  occurs  to  injure 
Mr.  L.'s  interest.     Honored  sir,  in  duty  yours,  P. 

N.B.  —  The  yacht  came  into  harbor  from  Cowes  last  night. 

The  same  day  which  brought  this  secret  despatch  saw 
one  from  Linton  to  Cashel,  saying,  that  by  the  aid  of  four 
hundred  workmen  in  various  crafts,  unceasing  toil,  and 
unwearied  zeal,  Tubbermore  would  be  ready  to  receive  his 
guests  by  the  following  Wednesday.  A  steamer,  hired 
specially,  had  brought  over  from  London  nearly  everything 
which  constitutes  the  internal  arrangement  of  a  house ;  and 
as  money  had  been  spent  without  control,  difficulties  melted 
away  into  mere  momentary  embarrassments,  —  impossibili- 
ties, there  were  none.  The  letter  contained  a  long  list  of 
commissions  for  Cashel  to  execute,  given,  however,  with 
no  other  object  than  to  occupy  his  time  for  the  remaining 
few  days  in  town  as  much  as  possible.  This  written  and 
VOL.  I.— 19 


290  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

sent  off,  Linton  addressed  himself  to  his  task  of  preparation 
with  an  energy  few  could  surpass,  and  while  the  trades- 
people were  stimulated  by  increased  pay  to  greater  efforts, 
and  the  work  was  carried  on  through  the  night  by  torch- 
light; the  whole  demesne  swarmed  with  laborers  by  whom 
roads  were  cut,  paths  gravelled,  fences  levelled,  flower-plots 
devised;  even  the  garden  —  that  labyrinth  of  giant  weeds 
—  was  reduced  to  order,  till  in  the  hourly  changing  aspect 
of  the  place  it  was  hard  not  to  recognize  the  wand  of 
enchantment.  It  was,  indeed,  like  magic  to  see  how  foun- 
tains sprang  up,  and  threw  their  sprayey  showers  over  the 
new-planted  shrubs ;  new  paths  led  away  into  dense  groves 
of  trees ;  windows,  so  late  half  walled  up,  now  opened  upon 
smooth,  shaven  turf,  or  disclosed  a  reach  of  swelling  land- 
scape; and  chambers,  that  a  few  days  back  were  the 
gloomy  abode  of  the  bat  and  the  night-owl,  became  of  a 
sudden  cheerful  and  lightsome. 

Stuccoed  ceilings,  mirror-panelled  windows,  gilded  cor- 
nices, and  carved  architraves  —  all  of  which  would  imply 
time  and  long  labor  —  were  there  at  once  and  on  the 
moment,  for  the  good  fairy  who  did  these  things  knows  not 
failure,  —  the  banker's  check-book.  From  the  great  hall 
to  the  uppermost  chamber  the  aspect  of  all  bespoke  comfort. 
The  elegances  of  life,  Linton  well  knew,  are  like  all  other 
refinements,  — not  capable  of  being  "improvised,"  but  the 
daily  comforts  are.  The  meaner  objects  which  make  up 
the  sum  of  hourly  want,  —  the  lazy  ottoman,  the  downy- 
pillowed  fauteuils,  the  little  squabs  that  sit  in  windows  to 
provoke  flirtations  and  inspire  confidences;  the  tempting 
little  writing-tables  that  suggest  pen  and  ink;  the  billiard- 
table,  opening  on  the  flower-garden,  so  redolent  of  sweet 
odors  that  you  feel  exonerated  for  the  shame  of  an  in-door 
occupation;  the  pianos  and  guitars  and  harps  scattered 
about  in  various  places,  as  though  to  be  ever  ready  to  the 
touch;  the  books  and  prints  and  portfolios  that  give 
excuse  to  the  lounging  mood,  and  text  for  that  indolent  chit- 
chat so  pleasant  of  a  morning,  —  all  these,  and  a  thousand 
other  things,  seen  through  the  long  perspective  of  a  hand- 
some suite  of  rooms,  do  make  up  that  sum,  for  which  our 
own  dear  epithet,  "comfort,"  has  no  foreign  equivalent, 


TUBBERMORE   TRANSFORMED.  291 

We  have  been  often  compelled,  in  this  veracious  history, 
to  reflect  with  harshness  on  certain  traits  of  Mr.  Linton's 
moralit3\  Let  us  make  him  the  small  amende  in  our  power 
to  say,  that  in  his  present  functions  he  was  unsurpassable; 
and  here,  for  the  moment,  we  leave  him. 


CHAPTER  XXVL 

BAD    GENERALSHIP. 

"  They  alle  agrede  to  disagree, 
A  moste  united  Familie  ! " 

Great  was  the  excitement  and  bustle  in  the  Kennyfeck 
family  on  the  arrival  of  a  brief  note  from  Roland  Cashel, 
setting  forth  that  the  house  at  Tubbermore  was  at  length  in 
a  state  to  receive  his  guests,  who  were  invited  for  the 
following  Wednesday. 

Although  this  visit  had  rarely  been  alluded  to  in  Cashel's 
presence,  it  was  a  very  frequent  topic  of  the  family  in 
secret  committee,  and  many  were  the  fears  inspired  by  long 
postponement  that  the  event  would  never  come  off.  Each, 
indeed,  looked  forward  to  it  with  very  different  feelings. 
Independent  of  all  more  purely  personal  views,  Mrs.  Ken- 
nyfeck speculated  on  the  immense  increase  of  importance 
she  should  obtain  socially,  in  the  fact  of  being  domesticated 
in  the  same  house  with  a  commander  of  the  forces  and  his 
lady,  not  to  speak  of  secretaries,  aides-de-camp^  and 
Heaven  knows  what  other  functionaries.  The  young  ladies 
had  prospective  visions  of  another  order;  and  poor  Kenny- 
feck fancied  himself  a  kind  of  agricultural  Metternich,  who 
was  about,  at  the  mere  suggestion  of  his  will,  to  lay  down 
new  territorial  limits  on  the  estate,  and  cut  and  carve  the 
boundaries  at  his  pleasure. 

Aunt  Fanny,  alone,  was  not  warmed  by  the  enthusiasm 
around  her;  first  of  all,  there  were  grave  doubts  if  she  could 
accompany  the  others,  as  no  precise  invitation  had  ever 
been  accorded  to  her;  and  although  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  stoutly 
averred   "she  was  as  good  as  asked,"  the  elder  daughter 


BAD  GENERALSHIP.  293 

plainly  hinted  at  the  possible  awkwardness  of  such  a  step, 
Olivia  preserving  between  the  two  a  docile  neutrality. 

"I  'm  sorry  for  your  sake,  my  dear,"  said  Miss  O'Hara 
to  Olivia,  with  an  accent  almost  tart,  "because  I  thought  I 
might  be  useful." 

"It  is  very  provoking  for  all  our  sakes,"  said  Miss 
Kennyfeck,  as  though  quietly  suffering  the  judgment  to  be 
pronounced;  "we  should  have  been  so  happy  all  together." 

"If  your  father  was  any  good,  he  'd  manage  it  at  once," 
said  Mrs.  K.,  with  a  resentful  glance  towards  poor  Mr. 
Kennyfeck,  who,  with  spectacles  on  his  forehead,  and  the 
newspaper  on  his  knee,  fancied  he  was  thinking. 

"We  should  have  some  very  impertinent  remark  upon  it, 
I  'm  certain,"  said  Miss  K.,  who,  for  reasons  we  must 
leave  to  the  reader's  own  acuteness,  was  greatly  averse  to 
her  aunt  accompanying  them,  "so  many  of  one  family!  I 
know  how  Linton  will  speak  of  it." 

"Let  him,  if  he  dare;  I  wonder  whose  exertions  placed 
Cashel  himself  in  the  position  he  enjoys,"  said  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck, angrily,  and  darting  a  look  of  profound  contempt  at 
her  husband,  recognizing,  doubtless,  the  axiom  of  the 
ignoble  means  through  which  Providence  occasionally  effects 
our  destinies. 

"I  can  remain  here,  mamma,  for  that  matter,"  said 
Olivia,  in  a  voice  of  angelic  innocence. 

"Sweet  —  artless  creature,"  whispered  her  sister,  "not  to 
know  how  all  our  devices  are  exercised  for  her." 

"It 's  really  too  provoking,  Fanny,"  said  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck; "you  were  just  beginning  to  acquire  that  kind  of 
influence  over  him  which  would  be  so  serviceable,  and  once 
in  the  country,  where  so  many  opportunities  for  joining 
him  in  his  walks  would  occur,  I  calculated  immensely  on 
your  assistance." 

"Well,  my  dear,  it  can't  be  helped,"  sighed  Aunt  Fanny. 

"Couldn't  we  allude  to  it  to-day,  when  Cashel  calls,  and 
say  something  about  your  going  away  to  the  country  and 
our  regrets  at  parting,  and  so  on?  Olivia,  you  might  do 
that  very  easily." 

"It  wouldn't  do  for  Olivia,"  said  Aunt  Fanny,  very 
sententiously. 


294  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Quite  right,  aunt,"  chimed  in  Miss  Kennyfeck;  "that 
would  be  like  old  Admiral  Martin,  who  shot  away  all  his 
ammunition  firing  salutes." 

''Mr.  Kennyfeck!"  said  his  spouse,  with  a  voice  of  com- 
mand; "I  vow  he  is  deafer  every  day  —  Mr.  Kennyfeck, 
you  must  call  on  Mr.  Cashel  this  morning,  and  say  that  we 
really  cannot  think  of  inflicting  him  with  an  entire  family; 
that  you  and  I  alone  —  or  you  and  Olivia  —  " 

"No  —  no,  Mr.  Kennyfeck  and  Caroline,"  interposed 
Aunt  Fanny,  "say  that." 

"Thanks  for  the  preference,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck,  with 
a  short  nod,  "I  am  to  play  lightning-conductor;  isn't 
it  so?" 

''Or  shall  I  propose  going  alone?  "  interposed  Mr.  Kenny- 
feck, in  all  the  solemnity  of  self-importance. 

"Is  n't  he  too  bad?"  exclaimed  his  wife,  turning  to  the 
others ;  "  did  you  ever  conceive  there  could  be  anything  as 
dull  as  that  man?  We  cannot  trust  you  with  any  part  of 
the  transaction." 

"Here  comes  Mr.  Cashel  himself,"  said  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
as  a  phaeton  drove  rapidly  to  the  door,  and  Cashel,  accom- 
panied by  a  friend,  descended. 

"  Not  a  word  of  what  we  were  speaking,  Mr.  Kennyfeck !  " 
said  his  wife,  sternly,  for  she  reposed  slight  reliance  on 
his  tact. 

"Who  is  with  him?"  whispered  Olivia  to  her  sister; 
but  not  heeding  the  question.  Miss  Kennyfeck  said,  — 

"Take  my  advice,  Livy,  and  get  rid  of  your  duenna. 
You'll  play  your  own  game  better." 

Before  there  was  time  for  rejoinder.  Lord  Charles  Fro- 
bisher  and  Cashel  entered  the  drawing-room. 

"You  received  my  note,  I  hope,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,"  said 
Roland,  as  he  accepted  her  cordially  offered  hand.  "I 
only  this  morning  got  Linton's  last  bulletin,  and  immedi- 
ately wrote  off  to  tell  you." 

"That  is  significant,"  whispered  Miss  Kennyfeck  to 
Olivia.     "To  give  us  the  earliest  intelligence." 

"I  trust  the  announcement  is  not  too  abrupt." 

"  Of  course  not,  —  our  only  scruple  is,  the  largeness  of 
our  party.  We  are  really  shocked  at  the  notion  of  inflicting 
an  entire  family  upon  you." 


BAD  GENERALSHIP.  295 

"Beware  the  Bear,"  whispered  Lord  C,  in  a  very  adroit 
undertone,  —  "don't  invite  the  aunt." 

"My  poor  house  will  only  be  the  more  honored,"  said 
Cashel,  bowing,  and  sorely  puzzled  how  to  act. 

"You'll  have  a  very  numerous  muster,  Cashel,  I  fancy," 
said  Lord  Charles,  aloud;  "not  to  speak  of  the  invited, 
but  those  '  Umbrffi, '  as  the  Romans  call  them,  who  follow 
in  the  suite  of  such  fascinating  people  as  Mrs.  White." 

"Not  one  too  many,  if  there  be  but  room  for  them;  my 
anxiety  is,  that  my  personal  friends  should  not  be  worst  off, 
and  I  have  come  to  beg,  if  not  inconvenient,  that  you  would 
start  from  this  on  Tuesday." 

"  Do  you  contract  to  bring  us  all  down?  "  said  Frobisher. 
"I  really  think  you  ought;  the  geography  of  that  district 
is  not  very  familiar  to  most  of  us.  What  says  Miss 
Kennyfeck?  " 

"I  like  everything  that  promises  pleasure  and  amuse- 
ment." 

"What  says  her  sister?"  whispered  Cashel  to  Olivia. 

"  How  do  you  mean  to  travel,  Mr.  Cashel  ?  "  said  she,  in 
a  tone  which  might  be  construed  into  perfect  artlessness  or 
the  most  intense  interest. 

"With  you  —  if  you  permit,"  said  Cashel,  in  a  low  voice. 
"I  have  been  thinking  of  asking  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  if  she 
would  like  to  go  down  by  sea,  and  sail  up  the  Shannon. 
My  yacht  has  just  arrived." 

"Mamma  cannot  bear  the  water,  or  it  would  be  delight- 
ful," said  Olivia. 

"Cannot  we  manage  a  lady  patroness,  then?"  said 
Cashel;  "would  Miss  O'Hara  kindly  consent?  " 

"Aunt  Fanny,  Mr.  Cashel  wishes  to  speak  to  you." 

"Gare  la  tante!  "  said  Frobisher,  between  his  teeth. 

"We  were  speaking  —  or  rather,  I  was  expressing  a 
hope,"  said  Cashel,  diffidently,  "that  a  yacht  excursion 
round  the  southern  coast,  and  so  up  the  Shannon,  might  not 
be  an  inappropriate  way  of  reaching  Tubbermore.  Would 
Miss  O'Hara  feel  any  objection  to  be  of  the  party?" 

"With  Caroline  and  mo,"  said  Olivia,  innocently. 

Miss  O'Hara  smiled,  and  shook  her  head  doubtfully. 

"  It  is  very  tempting,  Mr.  Cashel,     -  too  tempting,  indeed; 


296  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

but  it  requires  consideration.  May  I  speak  a  word  with 
you?"  And  so  saying,  she  withdrew  with  Cashel  into  a 
window  recess. 

The  interview  was  brief;  but  as  they  returned  to  the 
circle,  Cashel  was  heard  to  say,  — 

"I  am  really  the  worst  man  in  the  world  to  solve  such 
difficulties,  for  in  my  ignorance  of  all  forms,  I  incur  the 
risk  of  undervaluing  them;  but  if  you  thought  by  my 
inviting  Lord  and  Lady  Kilgoff  —  " 

"Oh,  by  no  means.  My  sister  would  never  consent  to 
that.     But  I  will  just  confer  with  her  for  an  instant." 

''If  the  Kilgoff s  are  asked,  it  spoils  all,"  said  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  in  reply  to  a  whispered  communication  of  her 
sister. 

"I'll  manage  that,"  said  Aunt  Fanny;  "I  half  hinted 
you  did  n't  like  the  companionship  for  the  girls." 

"He  '11  invite  Mrs.  Leicester  White,  or  Lady  Janet, 
perhaps." 

"He  sha'n't.     I'll  take  the  whole  upon  myself." 

"You  have  done  it,  I  see,"  said  Frobisher,  coming  close 
to  Cashel,  and  affecting  to  examine  his  watch-guard;  "and 
I  warned  you,  notwithstanding." 

"  What  could  I  do?  "  said  Cashel,  hopelessly. 

"What  you  must  do  later  on,"  said  Lord  Charles,  coolly; 
"cut  the  whole  concern  altogether." 

"Have  you  invited  the  Dean,  Mr.  Cashel?"  interposed 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck. 

"I  really  cannot  inform  you,  madam.  There  has  been  so 
much  confusion  —  Linton  promising  to  do  everything,  and 
ask  everybody ;  but  the  omission  —  if  such  —  " 

"Should  be  left  where  it  is,"  muttered  Frobisher. 

"How  long  should  we  probably  be  on  the  voyage,  Mr. 
Cashel?  "  asked  Miss  O'Hara. 

" Three  —  four  —  or  five  days  —  perhaps  more." 

"I  '11  give  you  a  month's  sail,  and  back  '  Time  '  after  all," 
said  Lord  Charles. 

"Oh,  that  is  out  of  the  question;  we  couldn't  think  of 
such  an  excursion,"  said  Aunt  Fanny, 

Olivia  cast  a  most  imploring  look  on  her  aunt,  and  was 
silent. 


I 


BAD   GENERALSHIP.  297 

"Another  point,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Miss  O'Hara,  speak- 
ing in  a  very  low  whisper;  "my  sister,  who  is  so  particular 
about  her  girls,  —  you  know  how  they  have  been  brought  up, 
so  rigidly,  and  so  carefully,  —  she  is  afraid  of  that  kind  of 
intimacy  that  might  possibly  grow  up  between  them  and  — 
and  —  "  Here  she  came  to  a  full  stop.  "Didn't  I  hear 
you  speak  of  Lady  Kilgoff  ?  " 

"Yes;  I  thought  her  exactly  the  kind  of  person  you'd 
like  to  have." 

"  Oh,  she  is  charming  —  most  delightful ;  but  she  is  a 
woman  of  the  world,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Aunt  Fanny,  shak- 
ing her  head. 

"Indeed!  "  muttered  Roland,  not  in  the  least  guessing  the 
drift  of  the  remark. 

"No,  no,  Mr.  Cashel,  that  would  never  do.  These  sweet 
children  have  no  knowledge  of  such  people,  further  than  the 
common  intercourse  of  society.  Lady  Kilgoff  and  Mrs. 
White  —  " 

"Is  she  another?  " 

"She  is  another,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Aunt  Fanny, 
oracularly. 

"Then  I  see  nothing  for  it  but  limiting  the  party  to 
myself  and  my  yacht  commander,  — Lieutenant  Sickleton  of 
the  Navy,  —  and  I  believe  we  have  as  little  of  the  world 
about  us  as  any  one  could  desire." 

It  was  full  a  minute  or  two  before  Miss  O'Hara  could 
satisfy  herself  that  this  speech  was  not  uttered  ironically ; 
but  the  good-natured  and  frank  look  of  the  speaker  at  last 
dispelled  the  fear,  and  she  said,  — 

"Well,  if  you  really  ask  my  opinion,  I  'd  say,  you  are 
right.  For  our  parts  —  that  is,  for  the  girls  and  myself, 
I  mean  —  we  should  like  it  all  the  better,  and  if  you 
would  n't  find  us  too  tiresome  companions  —  " 

Miss  O'Hara  was  interrupted  here  by  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
who,  with  considerable  agitation  in  her  manner  said,  "I 
must  beg  pardon  for  disturbing  your  agreeable  tete-a-tete^ 
Mr.  Cashel,  but  I  wish  to  say  one  word  to  my  sister." 

As  they  retired  together,  Frobisher  came  up,  and,  draw- 
ing his  arm  within  Roland's,  led  him  to  a  window:  "I  say, 
old  fellow,  you  are  going  too  fast  here;  hold  in  a  bit,  I 
advise  you." 


298  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'How  do  you  mean?  —  what  have  I  done?  " 

"It 's  no  affair  of  mine,  you  know,  and  you  may  say  I  *m 
devilish  impertinent  to  mix  myself  up  in  it,  but  I  don't  like 
to  see  a  fellow  '  sold,'  notwithstanding." 

"Pray  be  explicit  and  frank;  what  is  it?  " 

"Well,  if  you  '11  not  take  it  ill  —  " 

"I  promise  I  shall  not  —  go  on." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  marry  that  little  girl  yonder,  with  the 
blue  flower  in  her  hair?  " 

"I  cannot  say  that  I  do,  or  that  I  do  not,"  said  Roland, 
getting  very  red. 

"Then,  you  're  making  a  very  bad  book,  that 's  all." 

"Oh,  you  're  quite  mistaken;  I  don't  suspect  her  of  the 
slightest  feeling  towards  me  —  " 

"  What  has  that  to  say  to  it,  my  dear  fellow?  "  interrupted 
Frobisher.  "I  didn't  imply  that  she  was  in  love  with  you! 
I  wanted  to  warn  you  about  the  mess  you  're  getting  into, 

—  the  family  fracas;  the  explanation  asking;  the  sermon- 
izing; the  letter- writing ;  the  tears,  reproaches,  distractions, 

—  ay,  and  the  damages,  too!  —  devilish  heavy  they'd  be 
against  one  like  you,  with  plenty  of  '  ready.'  Hush! 
they  're  coming." 

Miss  O'Hara  advanced  towards  Cashel,  and  Frobisher 
retired;  her  mien  and  carriage  were,  however,  statelier 
and  more  imposing,  with  less  of  cordiality  than  before. 
"We  cannot  agree  upon  the  details  of  this  excursion,  I  find, 
sir;  my  sister's  scruples,  Mr.  Kennyfeck's  doubts, — the 
difficulties,  in  short,  of  every  kind,  are  such,  that  I  fear  we 
must  relinquish  it." 

Cashel  bowed  deeply,  without  uttering  a  word ;  the  insin- 
uations of  Frobisher  were  added  in  his  mind  to  the  suspi- 
cion that  some  secret  game  was  being  played  against  him, 
and  his  manly  nature  was  insulted  by  the  doubt. 

Aunt  Fanny,  perhaps,  perceived  she  had  gone  too  far, 
for,  reassuming  her  former  smile,  she  said,  "Not  that  we 
despair  of  one  day  or  other  taking  a  pleasure-trip  in  your 
beautiful  vessel." 

"You  do  me  too  much  honor  by  expressing  such  a  hope," 
said  Cashel,  gravely ;  and  then  turning  to  Frobisher,  added, 
"Will  you  drive  me  down  to  Kingstown?  I  want  to  go  on 
board  for  a  few  minutes." 


BAD  GENERALSHIP.  299 

"We  see  you  at  seven  o'clock  I  hope?  "  said  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck,  in  a  whisper. 

"I  regret  to  have  made  an  engagement  for  to-day, 
madam,"  replied  Cashel,  stiffly.  "Good-morning,  ladies. 
Very  sorry.  Miss  O'Hara,  our  sea  intentions  have  been  a 
failure.     Let  me  hope  for  better  luck  on  land." 

"Will  you  not  be  here  this  evening?"  said  Olivia,  as  he 
passed  close  to  her,  and  there  was  in  the  swimming  eye  and 
tremulous  voice  enough  to  have  melted  a  harder  heart  than 
Roland's;  but  this  time  he  was  proof  against  all  blandish- 
ments, and  with  a  very  cold  negative,  he  departed. 

"There  is  hope  for  you  yet,  old  fellow,"  said  Lord 
Charles,  as  he  walked  downstairs  beside  him;  "you  did 
that  extremely  well." 

Now,  although  Roland  was  far  from  knowing  what  he 
had  done,  or  how  to  merit  the  praises,  he  was  too  well 
pleased  with  the  momentary  repose  the  flattery  afforded  to 
question  further.  Meanwhile,  a  very  excited  scene  took 
place  in  the  house  they  had  just  quitted,  and  to  which,  for 
a  brief  space,  we  must  return. 

On  a  sofa  in  one  corner  of  the  room  sat  Olivia  Kennyfeck, 
pale  and  trembling,  her  eyes  tearful,  and  her  whole  air 
bespeaking  grief  and  agitation.  At  the  window  close  by 
stood  Miss  Kennyfeck,  the  calm  composure  of  her  face, 
the  ease  of  her  attitude,  the  very  types  of  internal  quiet. 
She  looked  out,  up  the  square,  and  playing  on  the  woodwork 
of  the  window  an  imaginary  pianoforte  air,  while  in  the 
back  drawing-room  sat  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  and  Miss  O'Hara, 
side  by  side  on  a  sofa,  their  excited  looks  and  heightened 
complexions  attesting  the  animation  of  the  controversy,  for 
such  in  reality  it  was. 

"I  thought  you  would  go  too  far  —  I  knew  you  would," 
said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  witli  an  angry  gesture  of  the  hand. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  too  far?"  rejoined  her  sister. 
"Is  it  in  the  face  of  a  letter  like  this  that  you  would  permit 
him  to  continue  his  attentions,  and,  worse  still,  let  the  girls 
go  off  for  an  excursion  of  maybe  a  week  or  two?  Read 
that." 

"  The  letter  is  anonymous,  and  may  be  untrue  from  end 
to  end." 


300  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"  Then  why  not  let  me  test  its  truth  by  some  allusion  to 
its  contents  ?  " 

"And  banish  him  from  the  house  ever  after,"  rejoined 
Mrs.  Kenny  feck,  bitterly.  ''No,  no,  Fanny,  you  mistake 
him  very  much;  he  isn't  like  one  of  your  old  County  Clare 
admirers,  that  can  be  huffed  to-day,  and  asked  to  dinner 
to-morrow,  —  not  that,  indeed,  you  showed  much  judgment 
in  your  management  even  of  them." 

This  allusion  to  Aunt  Fanny's  spinsterhood  was  too  pal- 
pable to  pass  unnoticed,  and  she  arose  from  the  sofa  with 
a  face  of  outraged  temper. 

"It  might  be  a  question,  my  dear,  between  us,  which  had 
the  least  success,  —  I,  who  never  got  a  husband,  or  you, 
who  married  that  one.'* 

If  Mr.  Kennyfeck  had  intended  by  a  tableau  to  have 
pointed  the  moral  of  this  allusion,  he  could  not  have  suc- 
ceeded better,  as  he  sat  bolt  upright  in  his  chair,  endeavor- 
ing through  the  murky  cloud  of  his  crude  ideas  to  catch  one 
ray  of  light  upon  all  he  witnessed;  he  looked  the  very 
ideal  of  hopeless  stupidity.  Miss  O'Hara,  like  a  skilful 
general,  left  the  field  under  the  smoke  of  her  last  fire,  and 
Mrs.  Kennyfeck  sat  alone,  with  what  Homer  would  call  "a 
heart-consuming  rage,"  to  meditate  on  the  past. 


CHAPTER   XXVn. 

LIEUTENANT    SICKLETON's    PATENT    PUMP. 

The  mariner's  chart 

He  knew  by  heart, 
And  every  current,  rock,  and  shore, 

From  the  drifting  sand 

Off  Newfoundland, 
To  the  sun-split  cliffs  of  Singapore, 

Captain  Pike. 

Lord  Charles  Frobisher  was  never  a  very  talkative  com- 
panion, and  as  Cashel's  present  mood  was  not  communica- 
tive, they  drove  along,  scarcely  interchanging  a  sentence, 
till  the  harbor  of  Kingstown  came  in  sight,  and  with  it  the 
gay  pennons  that  fluttered  from  the  mast  of  Roland's 
schooner. 

"  I  suppose  that  is  your  yacht,  —  the  large  craft  yonder?  " 

"I  hope  so,"  said  Cashel,  enthusiastically;  "she  sits  the 
water  like  a  duck,  and  has  a  fine  rakish  look  about  her." 

"So,  then,  you  never  saw  her  before?  " 

*' Never.  I  purchased  her  from  description,  taking  her 
crew,  commander,  and  all,  just  as  she  sailed  into  South- 
ampton from  Zante,  a  month  ago.  They  sent  me  a  drawing 
of  her,  her  measurement,  tonnage,  and  draught  of  water,  as 
also  the  log  of  her  run  in  the  Mediterranean;  —  yes,  that 's 
she,  I  can  recognize  the  water-line  from  the  sketch." 

"Is  your  visit  on  board  going  to  be  a  long  one?  "  drawled 
out  Lord  Charles,  languidly;  "for  I  own  I  am  not  the  least 
aquatic,  and  were  it  not  for  lobsters  and  whitebait  I  vote 
the  sea  a  humbug." 

"Then  I  '11  say  good-bye,"  said  Cashel.  "That  blue 
water,  that  curling  ripple,  and  the  fluttering  of  that  bunting, 
have  set  me  a-thinking  about  a  hundred  things." 


302  nOLAND  CASHEL. 

"You  '11  dine  with  us  at  seven,  won't  you?  " 

"No,  I  '11  dine  on  board,  or  not  dine  at  all,"  said  he,  as 
he  sprang  from  the  carriage,  and,  waving  his  hand  in  adieu, 
made  his  way  to  the  harbor.  Taking  the  first  boat  that 
offered,  Cashel  rowed  out  to  the  yacht,  just  in  time  to  catch 
Lieutenant  Sickleton,  who,  in  full  yacht  costume,  was  about 
to  wait  on  his  principal.  He  was  a  bluff,  good-natured, 
blunt  fellow,  who,  having  neither  patronage  nor  interest  in 
the  service,  had  left  the  wardroom  for  the  easier,  but  less 
ambitious,  life  of  a  yacht  commander;  a  thoroughly  good 
seaman,  and  brave  as  a  lion,  he  saw  himself  reduced  to  a 
position  almost  menial  from  hard  and  galling  necessity. 
He  had  twice  been  to  Alexandria  with  touring  lords,  who, 
while  treating  him  well  in  all  essentials,  yet  mingled  so 
much  of  condescension  in  their  courtesy  as  to  be  all  but 
unendurable.  He  had  gone  to  America  with  a  young 
Oxford  man,  the  son  of  a  great  London  brewer,  whose 
overbearing  insolence  he  had  been  obliged  to  repel  by  a 
threat  of  personal  consequences.  He  had  taken  an  invalid 
family  to  Madeira,  and  a  ruined  duke  to  Greece,  and  was 
now,  with  the  yacht  and  its  company,  transferred  to 
Cashel's  hands,  not  knowing  —  scarce  caring  —  with  whom 
or  where  his  future  destinies  were  to  be  cast. 

The  Freemasonry  of  the  sea  has  a  stronger  tie  than  the 
mere  use  of  technicals.  Cashel  was  not  ten  minutes  on 
board  ere  Sickleton  and  he  were  like  old  acquaintances. 
The  "Lucciola"  was,  in  Sickleton's  ideas,  the  best  thing 
that  ever  ran  on  a  keel ;  there  was  nothing  she  could  n't  do, 
—  fair  weather  or  foul.  She  could  outsail  a  Yankee  smack 
in  a  gale  off  the  coast  of  Labrador,  or  beat  a  felucca  in 
the  light  winds  off  the  Gulf  of  Genoa.  If  these  tidings 
were  delightful  to  Cashel's  ears, — the  most  exciting  and 
heart-stirring  he  had  listened  to  for  many  a  day,  —  the 
gratification  was  no  less  to  Sickleton  that  he  was  about 
to  sail  with  one  who  really  loved  the  sea,  and  thoroughly 
understood  and  could  value  the  qualities  of  his  noble 
craft. 

From  the  vessel,  they  turned  the  conversation  to  all  the 
possible  places  the  world's  map  afforded  for  a  cruise. 
Sickleton's  experiences  were  chiefly  Eastern,  — he  knew  the 


LIEUTENANT  SICIvLETON'S  PATENT  PUMP.         303 

Mediterranean  as  well  as  he  did  the  Downs;  while 
Cashel's  could  vie  with  him  in  both  coasts  of  the  great 
Spanish  peninsula,  and  all  the  various  channels  of  the  West 
India  islands.  For  hours  they  sat  discussing  soundings, 
the  trade  winds,  and  shore  currents,  with  all  the  bearings 
of  land  points,  bluffs,  and  lighthouses.  In  talk,  they 
visited  half  the  globe;  now  staggering  under  a  half-reefed 
topsail  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  now  swimming  along,  with 
winged  and  stretching  sails,  under  the  blue  cliffs  of  Baia. 

"I'm  sure  I  don't  know  how  you  ever  could  lead  a  shore 
life,"  said  Sickleton,  as  Cashel  described  with  warm 
enthusiasm  some  passages  of  his  rover's  existence. 

"Nor  do  I  understand  how  I  have  borne  it  so  long,'* 
said  Cashel;  "its  dissipations  weary,  its  deceits  provoke 
me.  I  have  lost  —  if  not  all  —  great  part  of  that  buoyancy 
which  mingled  peril  and  pleasure  create,  and  I  suppose,  in 
a  month  or  two  more,  I  should  be  about  as  apathetic,  as 
indolent,  and  as  selfish  as  any  fine  gentleman  ought  to  be. 
Ah,   if  we  had  a  war!" 

"That's  it, — that's  what  I  say  every  day  and  every 
night:  if  we  had  a  war,  the  world  would  be  worth  living 
in  or  dying  for.  Fellows  like  myself,  for  instance,  are 
never  thought  of  in  a  peace;  but  they  '  look  us  all  out,'  — 
just  as  they  do  a  storm-jib,  when  it  comes  on  to  blow.  No 
laughing  a  man  out  of  position,  then, — no,   faith!" 

"How  do  you  mean?"  said  Cashel,  who  saw  in  the 
intense  expression  of  the  speaker  how  much  the  words 
covered. 

"Just  what  happened  to  myself,  —  that  *s  all,"  said  Sick- 
leton; "but  if  you  like  to  hear  how,  —  the  story  is  n't  long, 
or  any  way  remarkable,  —  we  '11  have  a  bit  of  luncheon  here, 
and  I'll  tell  it  to  you." 

Cashel  willingly  assented,  and  very  quickly  a  most  appe- 
tizing meal  made  its  appearance  in  the  cabin,  to  which 
Sickleton  did  the  honors  most  creditably. 

"I  'm  impatient  for  that  anecdote  you  promised  me," 
said  Cashel,  as  the  dessert  made  its  appearance,  and  they 
Bat  in  all  the  pleasant  enjoyment  of  social  ease. 

"You  shall  hear  it,  — though,  as  I  said  before,  it 's  not 
much  of  a  story  either;  nor  should  I  tell  it,  if  I  did  n't  see 


304  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

that  you  feel  a  sort  of  interest  about  myself  —  unhappily, 
its  hero." 

"  I  '11  not  weary  you  by  telling  you  the  story  that  thou- 
sands can  repeat,  of  a  service  without  patronage,  no  sooner 
afloat  than  paid  off  again,  and  no  chance  of  employment, 
save  in  a  ten-gun  brig  off  the  coast  of  Guinea,  and  I  sup- 
pose you  know  what  that  is  ?  " 

Cashel  nodded,  and  Sickleton  went  on:  — 

"Well,  I  passed  as  lieutenant,  and  went  through  my 
yellow  fever  in  the  Niger  very  creditably.  I  was  the  only 
one  of  a  ship's  company  in  the  gun-room  on  the  way  back 
to  England,  after  a  two  years'  cruise;  I  suppose  because 
life  was  less  an  object  to  me  than  the  other  fellows,  who 
had  mothers,  and  sisters,  and  so  on.  So  it  was,  I  brought 
the  old  '  Amphion '  safe  into  dock,  and  was  passed  off  to 
wander  about  the  world,  with  something  under  forty  pounds 
in  my  pocket,  and  a  *  good-service  letter '  from  the  Admi- 
ralty —  a  document  that  costs  a  man  some  trouble  to  gain, 
but  that  would  not  get  you  a  third-class  place  in  the  rail  to 
Croydon,  when  you  have  it.  What  was  I  to  do  ?  —  I  had 
no  interest  for  the  Coast-Guard.  I  tried  to  become  keeper 
of  a  lighthouse,  but  failed.  It  was  no  use  to  try  and  be  a 
clerk  —  there  were  plenty  of  fellows,  better  qualified  than 
myself,  walking  the  streets  supperless.  So  I  set  myself  a 
thinking  if  I  could  n't  do  something  for  '  the  service  '  that 
might  get  me  into  notice,  and  make  the  '  Lords  '  take  me 
up.  There  was  one  chap  made  his  fortune  by  '  round 
sterns, '  though  they  were  known  in  the  Dutch  Navy  for  two 
centuries.  There  was  another  invented  a  life-boat;  a  third, 
a  new  floating  buoy  —  and  so  on.  Now  I  'm  sure  I  passed 
many  a  sleepless  night  thinking  of  something  that  might 
aid  me;  at  one  time  it  was  a  new  mode  of  reefing  topsails 
in  a  gale;  at  another  it  was  a  change  in  signalizing  the 
distant  ships  of  a  squadron;  now  an  anchor  for  rocky 
bottoms;  now  a  contrivance  for  lowering  quarter- boats  in  a 
heavy  sea  —  till  at  last,  by  dint  of  downright  thought  and 
perseverance,  I  did  fall  upon  a  lucky  notion.  I  invented  a 
new  hand-pump,  applicable  for  launches  and  gun-boats, —  a 
thing  greatly  wanted,  very  simple  of  contrivance,  and  easy 
to  work.     It  was  a  blessed  moment,  to  be  sure,  when  my 


LIEUTENANT  SICKLETON'S  PATENT  PUMP.        805 

mind,  instead  of  wandering  over  everything  from  the  round 
top  to  the  taffrail,  at  last  settled  down  on  this  same  pump ! 

"It  was  not  mere  labor  and  study  this  invention  caused 
me.  No!  it  swallowed  up  nearly  every  shilling  of  my  little 
hoard.  I  was  obliged  to  make  a  model,  and  what  with  lead 
and  zinc,  and  solder  and  leather,  and  caoutchouc  and 
copper,  I  was  very  soon  left  without  '  tin ; '  but  I  had  hope, 
and  hope  makes  up  for  half  rations!  At  last,  my  pump 
was  perfect ;  the  next  thing  was  to  make  it  known.  There 
was  no  use  in  trying  this  through  any  unprofessional  chan- 
nels. Landsmen  think  that  as  they  pay  for  the  navy,  they 
need  not  bother  their  heads  about  it  further.  *  My  lords,' 
I  knew  well,  would  n't  mind  me,  because  my  father  was  n't 
in  Parliament,  and  so  I  thought  of  one  of  those  magazines 
that  devote  themselves  to  the  interests  of  the  two  services, 
and  I  wrote  a  paper  accordingly,  and  accompanied  it  by  a 
kind  of  diagram  of  my  pump.  I  waited  for  a  month  —  two 
—  three  months  —  but  heard  nothing,  saw  nothing  of  my 
invention.  I  wrote,  but  could  get  no  answer;  I  called,  but 
could  see  no  editor;  and  at  last  was  meditating  some  per- 
sonal vengeance,  when  I  received  a  note.  It  was  then  much 
after  midsummer,  few  people  in  town,  and  the  magazines 
were  printing  anything  —  as  no  one  reads  them  in  the  dog- 
days  —  stating  that  if  Lieutenant  Sickleton  would  procure  a 
woodcut  of  his  pump,  the  paper  descriptive  of  it  should 
appear  in  the  next  number.  That  was  a  civil  way  of  asking 
me  for  five  pounds;  but  help  there  was  none,  and  so  I 
complied. 

"At  length  I  read  in  the  list  of  the  contents,  '  Lieutenant 
Sickleton's  New  Hand  Pump,  with  an  Illustration'  —  and 
my  heart  bounded  at  the  words.  It  was  the  nineteenth 
article  —  near  the  end  of  the  number.  I  forget  what  the 
others  were  —  something,  of  course,  about  Waterloo,  and 
Albuera,  and  the  Albert  chako,  and  such-like  stuff.  My 
pump,  I  knew,  put  it  where  they  would,  was  the  paper  of 
the  month.  This  feeling  was  a  little  abated  on  finding  that, 
as  I  walked  down  Fleet  Street  on  the  day  of  publication, 
I  didn't  perceive  any  sign  of  public  notice  or  recognition; 
no  one  said  as  I  passed,  'That's  Sickleton,  the  fellow  who 
invented  the  new  pump.'     I  remembered,  however,  that  if 

VOL.  I.  —  20 


306  ROLAND   CASIIEL. 

my  pump  was  known,  I  was  not  as  yet,  and  that  though 
the  portrait  of  my  invention  had  become  fame,  my  own 
was  still  in  obscurity. 

"  I  betook  myself  to  the  office  of  the  journal,  expecting 
there  at  least  to  find  that  enthusiastic  reception  the  know- 
ledge of  my  merits  must  secure,  but  hang  me,  if  one  of  the 
clerks  —  as  to  the  editor,  there  was  no  seeing  him  —  took 
the  slightest  trouble  about  me.  I  told  him,  with,  I  trust,  a 
pardonable  swelling  of  the  bosom,  that  I  was  '  Sickleton.' 
I  did  n't  say  the  famous  Sickleton,  and  I  thought  I  was 
modest  in  the  omission;  but  he  was  n't  in  the  least  struck 
by  the  announcement,  and  I  quitted  the  place  in  disgust. 

"  Worse  than  all,  when  I  came  to  read  over  my  paper,  I 
found,  by  the  errors  of  the  press,  that  the  whole  diagram 
was  spoiled.  The  letters  had  been  misplaced,  and  the 
fiend  himself,  if  he  wanted  it,  couldn't  work  my  pump. 
You  see  that  C  D  represented  the  angular  crank,  F  was 
the  stop-cock,  and  T  the  trigger  that  closed  the  piston. 
Hang  me,  if  they  did  n't  make  F  the  trigger,  and  instead  of 
B  being  the  cistern,  it  was  made  the  jet;  so  that  when  you 
began  to  work,  all  the  water  squirted  through  the  sluices  at 

0  P  Q  over  the  operator.  I  went  nearly  mad.  I  wrote  a 
furious  letter  to  the  editor;  I  wrote  another  to  the  *  Times; ' 

1  wrote  to  the  '  Globe, '  the  '  Post, '  and  the  '  Herald. '  I 
explained,  I  elucidated,  I  asked  for  the  Englishman's 
birthright,  as  they  call  it  —  '  Justice  '  —  but  no  use !  In 
fact,  my  reclamations  could  only  be  inserted  as  advertise- 
ments, and  would  cost  me  about  a  hundred  pounds  to  pub- 
lish. So  I  sat  down  to  grieve  over  my  invention,  and 
curse  the  hour  I  ever  thought  of  serving  my  country. 

"It  was  about  six  months  after  this  —  I  had  been  living 
on  some  relations  nearly  as  poor  as  myself  —  when  I  one 
day  received  an  order  to  *  wait  at  the  Admiralty  the  next 
morning.'  I  went,  but  without  hope  or  interest.  I 
could  n't  guess  why  I  was  sent  for,  but  no  touch  of  expect- 
ancy made  me  anxious  for  the  result. 

"I  waited  from  eleven  till  four  in  the  ante-room;  and  at 
last,  after  some  fifty  had  had  audiences.  Lieutenant  Sickle- 
ton was  called.  The  time  was  I  would  have  trembled  at 
such  an  interview  to  the  very  marrow  of  my  bones.     Disap- 


LIEUTENANT   SICIvLETON'S   PATENT  PUMP.         307 

pointment,  however,  had  nerved  me  now,  and  I  stood  as 
much  at  ease  and  composed  as  I  sit  here. 

" '  You  are  Mr.  Sickleton  ? '  said  the  First  Lord,  who  was 
a  '  Tartar.' 

'''Yes,  my  Lord.' 

"  '  You  invented  a  kind  of  pump  —  a  hand-pump  for 
launches  and  small  craft,   I  think?  ' 

"  '  Yes,  my  Lord.' 

"  '  You  have  a  model  of  the  invention,  too? ' 

"  '  Yes,  my  Lord.' 

"  '  Can  you  describe  the  principle  of  your  discovery?  is 
there  anything  which,  for  its  novelty,  demands  the  peculiar 
attention  of  the  Admiralty?  ' 

"  '  Yes  —  at  least  I  think  so,  my  Lord,'  said  I,  the  last 
embers  of  hope  beginning  to  flicker  into  a  faint  flame 
within.  '  The  whole  is  so  simple,  that  I  can,  with  your 
permission,  make  it  perfectly  intelligible  even  here.  There 
is  a  small  double-acting  piston  —  ' 

"  '  Confound  the  fellow!  don't  let  him  bore  us,  now,'  said 

Admiral   M— in  a  whisper  quite  loud  enough  for  me  to 

overhear  it.  *  If  it  amuse  his  Majesty,  that 's  enough.  Tell 
him  what's  wanted,  and  let  him  go.' 

"  *  Oh,  very  well,'  said  the  First  Lord,  who  seemed  ter- 
ribly afraid  of  his  colleague.  '  It  is  the  king's  wish,  Mr. 
Sickleton,  that  your  invention  should  be  tested  under  his 
Majesty's  personal  inspection,  and  you  are  therefore  com- 
manded to  present  yourself  at  Windsor  on  Monday  next, 
with  your  model,  at  eleven  o'clock.  It  is  not  very  cum- 
brous, I  suppose? ' 

"'No,  my  Lord.  It  only  weighs  four  and  a  half  hundred- 
weight.' 

"  '  Pretty  well  for  a  model ;  but  here  is  an  order  for  a 
wagon.  You  '11  present  this  at  Woolwich.'  He  bowed  and 
turned  his  back,  and  I  retreated. 

"Sharp  to  the  hour  of  eleven  I  found  myself  at  Windsor 
on  the  following  Monday.  It  was  past  two,  however, 
before  his  Majesty  could  see  me.  There  were  audiences 
and  foreign  ambassadors,  papers  to  read,  commissions  to 
sign  —  in  fact,  when  two  o'clock  came,  the  king  had  only 
got  through   a   part   of   his   day's  work,  and  then  it  was 


308  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

luncheon-time.  This  was  over  about  three ;  and  at  last  his 
Majesty,  with  the  First  Lord,  two  admirals,  and  an  old 
post-captain,  who,  by  the  way,  had  once  put  me  in  irons 
for  not  saluting  his  Majesty's  guard  when  coming  up  to 
the  watch  at  midnight,  appeared  on  the  terrace. 

"The  place  selected  for  the  trial  was  a  neat  little  parterre 
outside  one  of  the  small  drawing-rooms.  There  was  a  foun- 
tain supplied  by  .two  running  streams,  and  this  I  was  to 
experiment  upon  with  my  new  pump.  It  was  trying  enough 
to  stand  there  before  such  a  presence;  but  the  uppermost 
thought  in  my  mind  was  about  my  invention,  and  I  almost 
forgot  the  exalted  rank  of  my  audience. 

''  After  due  presentation  to  his  Majesty,  and  a  few 
common-place  questions  about  where  I  had  served,  and 
how  long,  and  so  on,  the  king  said,  '  Come  now,  sir.  Let 
us  see  the  pump  at  work,  for  we  haven't  much  time  to 
lose.' 

"  I  immediately  adjusted  the  apparatus,  and  when  all 
was  ready,  I  looked  about  in  some  dismay,  for  I  saw  no 
one  to  assist  the  working.  There  were  present,  besides  the 
king  and  the  three  naval  officers,  only  two  fellows  in  full- 
dress  liveries,  a  devilish  sight  more  pompous-looking  than 
the  king  or  the  First  Lord.  What  was  to  be  done?  It 
was  a  dilemma  I  had  never  anticipated  ;  and  in  my  dire  dis- 
tress, I  stepped  back  and  whispered  a  word  to  old  Admiral 
Beaufort,  who  was  the  kindest-looking  of  the  party. 

*'  'What  is  he  saying? — what  does  he  want?  "  said  the 
king,  who  partly  overheard  the  whisper. 

"  '  Mr.  Sickleton  remarks,  your  Majesty,  that  he  will  need 
assistance  to  exhibit  his  invention  —  that  he  requires  some 
one  to  work  the  pump.' 

*' '  Then  why  did  n't  he  bring  hands  with  him?  '  said  the 
king,  testily.  '  I  suppose  the  machine  is  not  self-acting, 
and  that  he  knew  that  before  he  came  here.' 

"  I  thought  I  'd  have  fainted  at  this  rebuke  from  the  lips 
of  royalty  itself,  and  so  I  stammered  out  some  miserable 
excuse  about  not  knowing  if  I  were  empowered  to  have 
brought  aid  —  my  ignorance  of  court  etiquette  —  in  fact,  I 
blundered  —  and  so  far,  that  the  king  cut  me  short  by 
saying,  *  Take  those  people  there,  sir,  and  don't  delay  us ; ' 


LIEUTENANT  SICKLETON'S  PATENT  PUMP.         309 

pointing  to  the  two  gentlemen  in  cocked  hats,  bags,  and 
swords,  that  looked  as  if  they  could  have  danced  on  my 
grave  with  delight. 

''  In  a  flurry  —  compared  to  which  a  fever  was  composure 
—  I  instructed  my  two  new  assistants  in  the  duty,  and 
stationing  myself  with  the  hose  to  direct  the  operation  of 
the  jet,  I  gave  the  word  to  begin.  Well !  instead  of  a  great 
dash  of  water  spurting  out  some  fifty  feet  in  height,  and 
fizzing  through  the  air  like  a  rocket,  there  came  a  trickling, 
miserable  dribble,  that  puddled  at  my  very  feet !  I  thought 
the  sucker  was  clogged  —  the  piston  stopped  —  the  valves 
impeded  —  twenty  things  did  I  fancy  —  but  the  sober  truth 
was,  these  gilded  rascals  wouldn't  do  more  than  touch  the 
crank  with  the  tips  of  their  fingers,  and  barely  put  suffi- 
cient force  in  the  pressure  to  move  the  arm  up  and  down. 
*  Work  it  harder — put  more  strength  to  it,'  I  whispered, 
in  mortal  fear  to  be  overheard,  but  they  never  minded  me 
in  the  least.  Indeed,  I  almost  think  one  fellow  winked  his 
eye  ironically  when  I  addressed  him. 

"  '  Eh  —  what ! '  said  the  king,  after  ten  minutes  of  an 
exhibition  that  were  to  me  ten  years  at  the  galleys,  '  these 
pumps  do  next  to  nothing.  They  make  noise  enough,  but 
don't  bring  up  any  water  at  all.' 

' '  The  First  Lord  shook  his  head  in  assent.  Old  Beau- 
fort made  me  a  sign  to  give  up  the  trial,  and  the  post- 
captain  blurted  out,  in  a  half-whisper,  something  about  a 
'blundering  son  of  a  dog's  wife'  that  nearly  drove  me 
mad. 

"  *I  say,  Sickleton,'  said  the  king,  'your  invention's  not 
worth  the  solder  it  cost  you.  You  could  n't  sprinkle  the 
geraniums  yonder  in  three  weeks  with  it.' 

'"It's  all  the  fault  of  these  d— d  buffers,  please  your 
Majesty,'  said  I,  driven  clean  out  of  my  senses  by  failure 
and  disgrace  —  and,  to  be  sure,  as  hearty  a  roar  of  laughter 
followed  as  ever  I  listened  to  in  my  life  —  '  if  they  'd  only 
bear  a  hand  and  work  the  crank  as  I  showed  them  — ' 
As  I  spoke,  I  leaned  over  and  took  hold  of  the  crank  my- 
self, letting  the  hose  rest  on  my  shoulder. 

"With  two  vigorous  pulls  I  filled  the  pistons  full,  and, 
at  the  third,  rush  went  the  streaqq  with  the  force  of  a  Con- 


310  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

greve  —  not,  indeed,  over  the  trees,  as  I  expected,  but  full 
in  the  face  of  the  First  Lord ;  scarcely  was  his  cry  uttered, 
when  a  fourth  dash  laid  him  full  upon  his  back,  drenched 
from  head  to  foot,  and  nearly  senseless  from  the  shock. 
The  king  screamed  with  laughing — the  admiral  shouted  — 
the  old  post-captain  swore  —  and  I,  not  knowing  one  word 
of  all  that  was  happening  behind  my  back,  worked  away 
for  the  bare  life,  till  the  two  footmen,  at  a  signal  from  the 
admiral,  laid  hold  of  me  by  main  force,  and  dragged  me 
away,  the  perspiration  dripping  from  my  forehead,  and  my 
uniform  all  in  rags  by  the  exertion. 

"  *  Get  away  as  fast  as  you  can,  sir,'  whispered  old  B., 
'  and  thank  God  if  your  day's  work  only  puts  you  at  the  end 
of  the  list.'  I  followed  the  counsel  —  I  don't  know  how  — 
I  never  could  recollect  one  event  from  that  moment  till  I 
awoke  the  next  morning  at  my  aunt's  cottage  at  Blackwall, 
and  saw  my  coat  in  tatters,  and  the  one  epaulette  hanging 
by  a  thread ;  then  I  remembered  my  blessed  invention,  and 
I  think  I  showed  good  pluck  by  not  going  clean  out  of  my 
mind." 

There  was  an  earnestness  in  poor  Sickleton's  manner 
that  effectually  repressed  any  mirth  on  Cashel's  part  — 
indeed,  his  sense  of  the  ludicrous  gave  way  before  his 
feeling  of  sorrow  for  the  hard  fortune  of  the  man  without 
a  friend.  In  the  partial  civilization  of  the  far  west,  per- 
sonal prowess  and  energy  were  always  enough  to  secure  any 
man's  success ;  but  here,  each  day's  experience  taught  him 
how  much  was  to  be  laid  to  the  score  of  family  —  of  fortune 
—  name  —  address  —  and  the  thousand  other  accessories  of 
fortune.  He  had  just  begun  to  express  his  wonder  that 
Sickleton  had  never  tried  life  in  the  New  World,  when  the 
mate  appeared  at  the  cabin-door  to  say  that  a  shore  boat 
was  rowing  out  to  the  yacht. 

A  movement  of  impatience  broke  from  Sickleton.  "  More 
of  'em,  I  suppose,"  cried  he;  "we've  had  such  a  lot  of 
sight-seers  this  morning,  since  we  dropped  anchor!  most 
of  them  affecting  to  be  intimate  friends  of  yours,  and  all 
so  well  acquainted  with  your  habits  of  life,  that  I  should 
have  become  perfectly  informed  on  every  particular  of  your 
private  history  only  by  listening.'* 


LIEUTENANT  SICKLETON'S  PATENT  PUMP.         311 

**The  chances  are,"  broke  in  Cashel,  "  I  did  not  person- 
ally know  a  man  amongst  them." 

''  I  half  suspect  as  much.  They  spoke  far  too  confi- 
dently to  be  authentic.  One  would  have  it  you  were  half 
ruined  already,  and  had  got  the  yacht  over  to  clear  away, 
and  be  off.  Another,  that  you  were  going  to  be  married  to 
a  lady  with  an  immense  fortune,  —  a  rumor  contradicted 
by  a  third  saying  it  was  an  attorney's  daughter  without 
a  shilling." 

"  There's  a  lady,  I  see,  sir,  coming  on  board,"  said  the 
mate,  putting  in  his  head  once  more. 

*'  I  'd  swear  there  was,"  growled  Sickleton. 

"You  give  them  luncheon,  I  hope?  "  said  Cashel,  smiling 
at  the  other's  impatience. 

''Yes;  we've  had  something  like  an  ordinary  here,  to- 
day, and  as  I  heard  that  to-morrow  would  be  busier  still, 
I  have  had  my  boat  going  backwards  and  forwards  all  the 
morning  to  prepare." 

"  I  am  desired  to  show  you  this  card,  sir,"  said  the  mate, 
handing  one  to  Sickleton,  who  passed  it  to  Cashel. 

''Lord  Kilgoff — indeed!"  said  he,  surprised,  and  at 
once  hastened  to  the  deck. 

"  Mr.  Cashel  himself  here !  "  exclaimed  my  Lady,  from 
the  stern  of  a  small  boat  alongside ;  and  after  an  exchange 
of  friendly  recognition,  the  party  ascended  the  gangwa3^ 

"  This  was  a  pleasure  we  scarcely  looked  for,  to  meet 
you  here,"  said  his  Lordship,  blandly.  "  We  had  just 
taken  our  drive  down  to  the  harbor,  when  accidentally 
hearing  your  yacht  had  arrived,  Lady  Kilgoff  grew  desirous 
to  see  it." 

"  A  yacht  in  harbor  is  a  horse  in  stable,"  said  Cashel. 
"Will  you  permit  me  to  give  you  a  cruise?" 

"  I  should  like  nothing  in  the  world  so  well." 

"It  is  late — almost  six  o'clock,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff, 
looking  at  his  watch. 

"And  if  it  be,"  said  my  Lady,  coaxingly,  "you  know 
Dr.  Grover  recommended  you  the  sea  air  and  sea  excur- 
sions. I  declare  you  look  better  already ,  don't  you  think 
so,  Mr.  Cashel?" 

"I  protest  I  do,"  said  Cashel,  thus  appealed  to;   "and 


^12  HOLAND  CASHEL. 

if  you  will  only  pardon  the  deficiencies  of  a  floating  cuisine, 
and  dine  here  —  '* 

"  How  delightful!  "  broke  in  my  Lady,  not  suffering  even 
time  for  an  apology. 

* '  It  appeared  to  me  there  was  a  haunch  of  venison  hang- 
ing over  the  stern  when  we  came  on  board?  "  said  my  Lord, 
with  his  glass  to  his  eye. 

"Yes,  my  Lord,"  said  Sickleton,  touching  his  hat  in 
salutation;  ''I've  had  it  there  for  two  hours  every  day 
since  Tuesday  week." 

"And  is  the  wind,  and  the  tide,  and  everything  else  as 
it  should  be,  Mr.  Cashel?"  said  Lady  Kilgofif. 

"Everything  —  when  you  have  only  uttered  your  con- 
sent," said  he,  gallantly. 

"  What  is  this,  sir?  "  said  my  Lord,  as,  having  requested 
something  to  drink,  Sickleton  poured  him  out  a  large  glassful 
of  scarcely  frothing  liquid. 

"  Dry  champagne,  my  Lord.     Moet's." 

"And  very  excellent  too.  Really,  Laura,  I  am  very 
sorry  it  should  be  so  late,  and  we  were  to  have  dined  with 
Meek  at  seven  —  " 

"But  only  alone  —  no  party,  remember  that,"  said  she, 
persuasively;  "  how  easy  to  send  the  carriage  back  with  an 
apology." 

Cashel  looked  his  thanks,  but  without  speaking. 

"Take  those  red  partridges  out  of  ice,"  said  Sickleton, 
from  the  cook's  galley,  "and  let  us  have  those  Ostend 
oysters  to-day." 

"  I  yield,"  said  my  Lord.  "  Mr.  Cashel  must  take  all  the 
consequences  of  my  breach  of  faith  upon  himself." 

"  I  promise  to  do  so,  my  Lord." 

"A  pen  and  ink,  and  some  paper,  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  her 
Ladyship. 

"Will  you  permit  me  to  show  you  the  way?"  said  he, 
handing  her  down  into  the  little  cabin,  whose  arrangement 
was  all  in  the  perfection  of  modern  taste  and  elegance. 

"How  beautiful!"  cried  she.  "Oh!  Mr.  Cashel,  I 
really  do  envy  you  the  possession  of  this  fairy  ship.  You 
don't  know  how  passionately  I  love  the  sea." 

"  There  are  but  few  things  I  could  hear  you  say  with  so 


LIEUTENANT  SICKLETON'S  PATENT  PUMP.         313 

much  pleasure  to  me,"  said  Cashel,  gazing  with  a  strange 
feeling  of  emotion  at  the  brilliant  color  and  heightened 
expression  of  her  handsome  features. 

*' There!  that  is  finished,"  said  she,  closing  the  hastily- 
written  note.  "Now,  Mr.  Cashel,  we  are  yours."  How- 
ever much  of  course  the  words  were  in  themselves,  her  eyes 
met  Cashel's  as  she  spoke  them,  and  as  suddenly  fell ;  while 
he,  taking  the  letter,  left  the  cabin  without  speaking  —  a 
world  of  curious  conjecture  warring  in  his  heart. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

A    SPLIT   IN    THE    KENNYFECK    CABINET. 

Like  "  cat  and  dog !  "  not  so !  their  strife 
They  carried  on  like  "  man  and  wife." 

Family  Jars. 

It  may  easily  have  escaped  our  reader's  memory,  that  on 
Roland  Cashel's  hasty  departure  from  Mr.  Kennyfeck's,  the 
seeds  of  a  very  serious  schism  had  been  sown  in  that 
respectable  family,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  being  firmly  persuaded 
that  her  liege  lord  had  grossly  mismanaged  his  influence  over 
the  young  proprietor ;  the  girls  as  resolutely  opposed  to 
each  other ;  and  all,  with  a  most  laudable  unanimity,  agreed 
in  thinking  that  Aunt  Fanny  "  had  spoiled  everything,"  and 
that  but  for  her  odious  interference  there  never  would  have 
arisen  the  slightest  coolness  between  them  and  their  distin- 
guished acquaintance. 

"I  may  lose  the  agency!"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  with  a 
sigh  of  afflicting  sincerity. 

^'  I  should  n't  wonder  if  he  avoids  the  house,"  quoth  his 
wife. 

*'He  evidently  rejects  all  attempts  at  domination,"  said 
Miss  Kennyfeck,  with  a  glance  at  her  aunt.  Olivia  said 
nothing;  but  it  was  not  difficnlt  to  see  that  her  thoughts 
were  full  of  the  theme.  Meanwhile,  Miss  O'Hara,  in  all  the 
dignity  of  injured  rectitude,  sat  seemingly  unconscious  of 
the  popular  feeling  against  her,  repeating  from  time  to  time 
the  ominous  words,  "  We  shall  see  —  we  shall  see ;  "  a 
species  of  prophetic  warning  that,  come  what  may,  can 
always  assert  its  accomplishment. 

With  such  elements  of  discord  and  discontent,  the  break- 
fast proceeded  gradually,  and  the  broken  attempts  at  talk 


A  SPLIT  IN  THE   KENNYFECK   CABINET.  315 

had  subsided  into  a  sullen  silence,  when  the  butler  entered 
to  say  that  Mr.  Phillis  begged  to  speak  a  few  words  with 
Mr.  Kennyfeck. 

''Let  him  come  in  here,"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  as  her 
husband  was  rising  to  leave  the  room.  "I  think,  if  there 
are  to  be  no  more  blunders,  we  had  better  be  present  at  the 
conference." 

"  Show  him  in,  Pearse,"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  in  a  meek 
voice ;  and  the  gentleman's  gentleman  entered,  in  all  that 
easy  self-sufficiency  so  peculiar  to  his  class. 

"What  is  it,  Mr.  Phillis?"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  in  a 
commanding  tone,  meant  to  convey  the  information  of 
"where  the  Court  sat,"  and  to  whom  he  should  address  his 
pleading. 

"It's  a  little  matter  on  which  I  wanted  advice,  ma'am, 
for  I  am  really  puzzled  how  to  act.  You  know,  ma'am, 
that  we  are  expecting  large  company  at  our  place  in  the 
country  —  Tubb  —  something  —  " 

"  Tubbermore,"  interposed  Mr.  Kennyfeck. 

"  Yes,  sk,  Tubbermore.  Well,  there  have  been  at  least 
twenty  messages  this  morning  from  different  families,  who 
want  to  know  the  best  way  of  going,  and  when  Mr.  Cashel 
means  to  go  himself,  and  where  post-horses  are  to  be  had, 
and  how  they  are  to  get  forward  where  there  are  none,  and 
so  on." 

"Is  your  master  not  the  person  to  dictate  the  answer  to 
these  queries  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  with  her  grandest  air. 

"  Of  course,  ma'am,  but  he  's  not  here." 

"Where  is  he,  then?"  asked  she,  eagerly. 

"  He's  gone,  ma'am  ;  he  went  last  night." 

"Gone!  gone  where?"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  with  an 
eagerness  no  artifice  could  cover. 

"It's  hard  to  say,  ma'am;  but  he  went  down  to  Kings- 
town last  night,  and  sailed  in  the  yacht;  and  from  the 
preparations  and  sea  stores  taken  from  the  hotel,  it  would 
seem  like  a  long  cruise." 

"  And  did  he  not  mention  anything  of  his  intention  to 
you^  Mr.  Phillis?"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  with  a  flattering 
emphasis  on  the  pronoun. 

"  A  few  lines  in  pencil,  ma'am,  dated  from  the  harbor, 


316  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

was  all  I  received.     Here  they  are."     And  he  handed   a 
piece  of  note-paper  across  the  table. 
The  contents  ran  thus  :  — 

Phillis,  send  word  to  Sir  Harvey  Upton's  that  I  sha'n't  dine  there 
to-morrow.  Give  the  bearer  of  this  my  dressing-case,  and  clothes  for 
some  days,  and  have  the  fourgon  ready  packed  to  start  for  Tubber- 
more  on  receiving  my  next  orders. 

R.  C.  —  Kingstown  Harbor. 

"And  who  brought  this  note?"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
who  fancied  she  was  conducting  the  inquiry  in  true  judicial 
form. 

"One  of  the  yacht  sailors,  ma'am;  he  came  up  on  Lord 
Kilgoff's  carriage." 

"  On  Lord  Kilgoff's  carriage  —  how  did  that  happen?  " 

"The  carriage  came  into  town,  ma'am,  to  bring  some 
things  my  Lady  sent  for ;  at  least,  so  the  sailor  told  me." 

"  And  were  Lord  and  Lady  Kilgofif  on  board  the  yacht?" 

"Yes,  ma'am;  they  both  sailed  in  her  last  night." 

As  though  drawn  by  some  irresistible  influence,  every  eye 
was  now  turned  to  Aunt  Fanny,  who,  up  to  this,  had  listened 
to  Mr.  Phillis  with  a  breathless  attention,  and  if  looks  could 
be  translated,  every  glance  thus  thrown  said  plainly,  "  This 
is  your  doing." 

"Are  you  certain  that  the  yacht  has  not  returned  to 
Kingstown  ?  "  said  Miss  O'Hara. 

"Perfectly,  ma'am.  It  blew  a  storm  last  night,  and  the 
sailors  about  the  harbor  told  me  it  was  a  great  chance  that 
any  small  vessel  could  outlive  the  gale." 

Olivia  Kennyfeck  became  deadly  pale  at  these  words,  and 
whispered  something  in  her  sister's  ear. 

"Of  course,"  replied  the  other,  aloud;  then  turning  to 
Phillis,  said,  "  Had  they  a  pilot  with  them?  " 

"  I  believe  so,  miss,  but  there  are  so  many  contradictory 
reports,  one  don't  know  what  to  credit ;  some  say  that  Lord 
Kilgoff  was  greatly  opposed  to  the  cruise,  but  that  her  Lady- 
ship insisted,  and  that,  in  fact,  they  got  under  weigh  at  last 
without  my  Lord's  knowing,  and  while  they  were  at  dinner." 

"It  was  a  fearful  night!"  said  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  whose 
mind  was  entirely  engrossed  by  the  one  idea. 


A  SPLIT  m  THE  KENNYFECK  CABINET.  317 

"Take  him  into  the  next  room,  and  I'll  join  you  pres- 
ently," said  Mrs.  Kenny  feck  to  her  husband,  for  that  keen- 
sighted  lady  had  remarked  the  intense  interest  with  which 
Mr.  Phillis  listened  to  every  remark  made  around  him. 

"Here's  a  pretty  piece  of  business!"  cried  she,  as  the 
door  closed  after  her  husband  and  the  valet;  "and  cer- 
tainly, I  must  say,  we  've  no  one  to  thank  for  it  but  you, 
Fanny !  " 

"  Unquestionably  not,"  echoed  Miss  Kennyfeck.  "  Aunt 
Fanny  has  the  entire  merit  of  this  catastrophe." 

"It  is  most  cruel,"  sighed  Olivia,  as  she  wiped  the  tears 
from  her  eyes,  and  bent  upon  her  stern  relative  a  glance  of 
most  reproachful  sadness. 

"Are  you  all  mad?  "said  the  assailed  individual,  her 
courage  and  her  color  rising  together.  "  How  can  you 
pretend  to  connect  me  with  this  disgraceful  proceeding? 
Here's  a  case  as  clearly  prearranged  as  ever  was  heard 
of." 

"  Impossible  !  "  cried  Mrs.  Kennyfeck ;  "did  n't  he  invite 
us  only  yesterday  to  go  down  to  Tubbermore  by  sea?" 

"And  didn't  you  yourself  offer  the  only  impediment?" 
said  Miss  Kennyfeck. 

"  You  are  very  cruel,  aunt,"  sobbed  Olivia. 

"  You'll  drive  me  out  of  my  senses,"  said  Miss  O'Hara ; 
and  certainly  her  look  did  not  belie  her  words.  "  I  endea- 
vor to  rescue  you  from  the  snares  of  a  young  debauchee, 
who,  as  you  well  know,  has  a  wife  still  living  —  " 

"There,  I  hope  you  are  content  now,"  said  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  as  Olivia  fell  fainting  into  her  arms ;  and  the 
window  was  thrown  open,  and  all  were  busied  in  employ- 
ing the  wonted  restoratives  for  such  attacks.  Meanwhile, 
hostilities  were  continued,  but  in  a  less  rigorous  fashion. 
"You  know  you've  ruined  everything  —  you  know  well 
how  your  officious  meddling  has  destroyed  this  poor  child's 
fortune;  rub  her  temples,  Gary." 

"  I  know  that  he  is  a  dissipated,  abandoned  wretch, 
that  would  desert  her  to-morrow  as  he  has  done  that 
unhappy  —  '* 

'*■  Hush,  she  is  coming  to.     You  want  to  kill  her." 
Humph!"  muttered  Aunt  Fanny;    "this   scene   might 


i( 


318  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

be  very  effective  with  the  young  gentleman,  but  is  quite 
thrown  away  upon  me." 

"  Aunt,  aunt!  "  cried  Miss  Kennyfeck,  reprovingly. 

*'If  we  had  just  followed  our  own  counsels,  we  should 
have  this  very  hour  been  on  the  way  to  Tubbermore,  per- 
haps never  to  leave  it !  " 

Aunt  Fanny  shook  her  head. 

'^  Yes.  You  may  affect  to  doubt  and  hesitate,  and  all 
that,  but  where  is  the  wonderful  condescension  in  a  Mr. 
Cashel  proposing  for  the  grand-niece  of  Roger  Miles  O'Hara, 
of  Kilmurray  O'Hara  of  Mayo,  the  second  cousin  of  Lawrence 
O'Hara  Kelly,  that  ought  to  be  Lord  Bally  Kelly?  " 

"  Fairly  enough,  if  that  was  all,"  slipped  in  Miss  O'Hara, 
hoping  to  escape  from  all  danger  by  climbing  up  the  gene- 
alogical tree  whereon  her  sister  was  perched. 

"  If  that  was  all !  "  repeated  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  indignantly, 
catching  at  the  last  words,  "  and  what  more  is  wanting,  I'd 
be  glad  to  ask?  But,  to  be  sure,  it  was  rather  a  mistake  to 
call  to  our  counsels,  in  such  a  case,  one  that  never  could 
succeed  in  her  own." 

This  terrible  taunt  at  Miss  O'Hara's  celibacy  didn't  go 
unpunished,  for,  throwing  all  attempts  at  conciliation  be- 
hind her,  she  rose,  with  flashing  eyes  and  trembling  lips. 

''So,  it  is  you  that  tell  me  this,"  said  she  —  ''^ you  that 
dare  to  sneer  at  my  being  unmarried  —  you,  that  were  fain 
to  take  up  with  a  Dublin  attorney  —  poor  Tom  Kennyfeck 
—  the  hack  of  the  quarter  sessions,  serving  latitats  and 
tithe  notices  over  the  country  in  his  old  gig  —  Indeed, 
girls,  I  'm  sorry  to  speak  that  way  of  your  father,  but  it 's 
well  known  —  " 

A  loud  shriek  interrupted  the  speech,  and  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
in  strong  hysterics,  took  her  place  beside  Olivia. 

"  It  will  do  her  good,  my  dear,"  said  Aunt  Fanny  to  her 
niece,  as  she  chafed  the  hands  and  bathed  the  temples  of 
her  mother.  "I  was  only  telling  the  truth;  she'd  never 
have  married  your  father  if  Major  Kennedy  had  n't  jilted 
her ;  and  good  luck  it  was  he  did,  for  he  had  two  other  wives 
living  at  the  time  —  just  as  your  friend,  Mr.  Cashel,  wanted 
to  do  with  your  sister." 

"Aunt  —  aunt  —  I  entreat  you  to  have  done.  Haven't 
you  made  mischief  enough  ?  " 


A  SPLIT  IN  THE   KENNYFECK  CABINET.  319 

"  Eaten  up  with  vanity  and  self-conceit,"  resumed  the 
old  lady,  not  heeding  the  interruption.  "A  French  cook 
and  a  coach-and-four,  —  nothing  less !  Let  her  scream, 
child  —  sure,  I  know  it's  good  for  her  —  it  stretches  the 
lungs." 

"Leave  me  —  leave  the  room!"  cried  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
whose  efforts  at  calmness  were  rendered  fruitless  by  the 
torrent  of  her  aunt's  eloquence. 

"Indeed  I  will,  my  dear:  I'll  leave  the  house,  too. 
Sorry  I  am  that  I  ever  set  foot  in  it.  What  with  the  noise 
and  the  racket  night  and  day,  it 's  more  like  a  lunatic  asy- 
lum than  a  respectable  residence." 

"Send  her  away  —  send  her  away!"  screamed  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck,  with  a  cry  of  horror. 

"Do,  aunt  —  do  leave  the  room." 

"I'm  going  —  I'm  going,  young  lady;  but  I  suppose  I 
may  drink  my  cup  of  tea  first  —  it 's  the  last  I  '11  ever  taste 
in  the  same  house ;  "  and  she  reseated  herself  at  the  table 
with  a  most  provoking  composure.  "  I  came  here,"  resumed 
she,  "  for  no  advantage  of  mine.  I  leave  you  without 
regret,  because  I  see  how  your  poor  fool  of  a  father,  and 
your  vain,  conceited  mother  —  " 

"  Aunt,  you  are  really  too  bad.     Have  you  no  feeling?  " 

"That's  just  what  comes  of  it,"  said  she,  stirring  her 
tea  tranquilly.  "  You  set  up  for  people  of  fashion,  and 
you  don't  know  that  people  of  fashion  are  twice  as  shrewd 
and  'cute  as  yourself.  Faith,  my  dear,  they  'd  buy  and 
sell  you,  every  one.  What  are  they  at  all  day,  but  roguery 
and  schemes  of  one  kind  or  other,  and  then  after  '  doing  * 
you,  home  they  go,  and  laugh  at  your  mother's  vulgarity !  " 

A  fresh  torrent  of  cries  from  Mrs.  Kennyfeck  seemed  to 
show  that  unconsciousness  was  not  among  her  symptoms, 
and  Miss  Kennyfeck  now  hastened  from  the  room  to  sum- 
mon her  father  to  her  aid. 

"Well,  you've  come  to  turn  me  out,  I  suppose?"  said 
Aunt  Fanny,  as  the  old  gentleman  entered  in  a  state  of 
perplexity  that  might  have  evoked  the  compassion  of  a  less 
determined  enemy. 

"My  dear  Miss  Fanny  —  " 
None  of  your  four  courts  blarney  with  me,  sir;    I'm 


n 


320  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

ready  to  go  —  I  '11  leave  by  the  coach  to-night.  I  conclude 
you  '11  have  the  decency  to  pay  for  my  place,  and  my  dinner 
too,  for  I  '11  go  to  Dawson's  Hotel  this  minute.  Tell  your 
mother,  and  that  poor  dawdle  there,  your  sister,  that  they  'd 
be  thankful  they'd  have  followed  my  advice.  The  rate 
you  're  living,  old  gentleman,  might  even  frighten  you. 
There  's  more  waste  in  your  kitchen  than  in  Lord  Clondoo- 
ney's.  As  for  yourself,  Caroline,  you  're  the  best  of  the 
lot ;  but  your  tongue,  darling  !  —  your  tongue  !  "  And  here 
she  made  a  gesture  of  far  more  expressive  force  than  any 
mere  words  could  give. 

**Is  she  gone?"  said  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  as  a  slight  lull 
succeeded. 

*'Yes,    mamma,"   whispered    Miss    Kennyfeck;     "but 
speak  low,  for  Mr.  Phillis  is  in  the  hall." 

"I'll  never  see  her  again  —  I'll  never  set  eyes  on  her," 
muttered  Mrs.  Kennyfeck. 

"I  should  n't  wonder,  mamma,  if  that  anonymous  letter 
was  written  by  herself,"  said  Caroline.  "She  never  for- 
gave Mr.  Cashel  for  not  specially  inviting  her;  and  this, 
I'm  almost  sure,  was  the  way  she  took  to  revenge  her- 
self." 

"  So  it  was,"  cried  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  eagerly  seizing  al 
the  notion.     "Hush,  take  care  Livy  doesn't  hear  you." 

"As  for  the  yacht  expedition,  it  was  just  the  kind  of 
thing  Lady  Kilgoff  was  ready  for.  She  is  dying  to  be 
talked  of." 

"  And  that  poor,  weak  creature,  Cashel,  will  be  so  flat- 
tered by  the  soft  words  of  a  peeress,  he'll  be  intolerable 
ever  after." 

"  Aunt  Fanny  —  Aunt  Fanny  !  "  sighed  Miss  Kennyfeck, 
with  a  mournful  cadence. 

"If  I  only  was  sure  —  that  is,  perfectly  certain  —  that 
she  wrote  that  letter  about  Cashel  —  But  here  comes  your 
father  —  take  Olivia,  and  leave  me  alone." 

Miss  Kennyfeck  assisted  her  sister  from  the  sofa,  and 
led  her  in  silence  from  the  room,  while  Mr.  Kennyfeck  sat 
down,  with  folded  hands  and  bent  down  head,  a  perfect 
picture  of  dismay  and  bewilderment. 

"Well,"   said   his  wife,  after   a  reasonable   interval  of 


A  SPLIT  IN  THE  KENNYFECK  CABINET.  321 

patient   expectation   that    he   would   speak  —  "  well,    what 
have  you  to  say  for  yourself  now,  sir  ?  " 

The  poor  solicitor,  who  never  suspected  that  he  was  under 
any  indictment,  looked  up  with  an  expression  of  almost 
comic  innocence. 

' '  Did  you  hear  me,  Mr.  Kennyf  eck,  or  is  it  you  want  to  pass 
off  your  dulness  for  deafness?     Did  you  hear  me,  I  say?" 

''Yes,  I  heard  —  but  I  really  do  not  know — that  is,  I 
am  unaware  how  —  I  cannot  see  —  " 

"  Oh,  the  old  story,"  sighed  she  —  "  injured  innocence  ! 
Well,  sir,  I  was  asking  you  if  you  felt  gratified  with  our 
present  prospects  ?  Linton's  intimacy  was  bad  enough,  but 
the  Kilgoff  friendship  is  absolute,  utter  ruin.  That  crafty, 
old,  undermining  peer,  as  proud  as  poor,  will  soon  ensnare 
him;  and  my  Lady,  with  her  new  airs  of  a  viscountess, 
only  anxious  to  qualify  for  London  by  losing  her  character 
before  she  appears  there  !  " 

"As  to  the  agency  —  " 

"  The  agency  !  "  echoed  she,  indignantly,  *'  do  your  thoughts 
never  by  any  chance,  sir,  take  a  higher  flight  than  five  per 
cent.  ?  —  are  you  always  dreaming  of  your  little  petty  gains 
at  rent-day  ?  I  told  you,  sir,  how  the  patron  might  be 
converted  into  a  son-in-law  —  did  I  not?" 

"You  did,  indeed,  and  I'm  certain  I  never  threw  any 
impediment  in  the  way  of  it." 

"You  never  threw  any  impediment  in  the  way  of  your 
child's  succeeding  to  a  fortune  of  sixteen  thousand  a  year ! 
You  really  are  an  exemplary  father." 

"  I  'd  have  forwarded  it,  if  I  only  knew  how." 

"How  good  of  you!  I  suppose  you'd  have  drawn  up 
the  settlements  if  ordered.  But  so  it  is  —  all  my  efforts 
through  life  have  been  thwarted  by  you !  I  have  labored 
and  toiled  day  and  night  to  place  my  children  in  the  sphere 
that  their  birth,  on  one  side  at  least,  would  entitle  them  to, 
and  you  know  it." 

Now  this  Mr.  Kennyfeck  really  did  not  know.  In  his 
dull  fatuity  he  always  imagined  that  he  was  the  honey- 
gatherer  of  the  domestic  hive,  and  that  Mrs.  Kennyfeck 
had  in  her  own  person  monopolized  the  functions  of  queen 
bee  and  wasp  together, 
vol..  I. —21 


322  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Your  low,  pettifogging  ambition  never  soared  above  a 
Softly  or  a  Clare  Jones  for  your  daughters,  while  1  was 
planning  alliances  that  would  have  placed  them  among  the 
best  in  the  land  —  and  how  have  I  been  rewarded  ?  Indif- 
ference, coolness,  perhaps  contempt !  "  Here  a  flood  of 
tears,  that  had  remained  dammed  up  since  the  last  torrent, 
burst  forth  in  convulsive  sobs.  "  Ungrateful  man,  who 
ought  never  to  have  forgotten  the  sacrifice  I  made  in  marry- 
ing him  —  the  rupture  with  every  member  of  my  family  — 
the  severance  of  every  tie  that  united  me  to  my  own." 

She  ceased,  and  here,  be  it  remembered,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck 
seemed  to  address  herself  to  some  invisible  jury  empanelled 
to  try  Mr.  Kennyfeck  on  a  serious  charge. 

"  He  came  like  a  serpent  into  the  bosom  of  our  peaceful 
circle,  and  with  the  arts  that  his  crafty  calling  but  too  well 
supplied,  seduced  my  young  affections." 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  started.  It  had  never  before  occurred  to 
him  that  Don  Juan  was  among  his  range  of  parts. 

"  False  and  unfeeling  both,"  resumed  she.  "  Luring  with 
promises  never  intended  for  performance,  you  took  me  from 
a  home,  the  very  sanctuary  of  peace !  " 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  wiped  his  forehead  in  perplexity ;  his 
recollection  of  the  home  in  question  was  different.  Sanc- 
tuary it  might  have  been,  but  it  was  against  the  officers  of 
the  law  and  the  sheriff,  and  so  far  as  a  well-fastened  hall  door 
and  barricaded  windows  went,  the  epithet  did  not  seem  quite 
unsuitable. 

"  Ah  !  "  sighed  she  —  for  it  is  right  to  remark  that  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck  was  a  mistress  of  that  domestic  harmony  which 
consists  in  every  modulation,  from  the  grand  adagio  of 
indignant  accusation  to  the  rattling  andante  of  open  abuse 
—  "had  I  listened  to  those  older  and  wiser  than  I,  and 
who  foretold  the  destiny  that  awaited  me,  I  had  never  seen 
this  unhappy  day !  No,  sir !  I  had  not  lived  to  see  myself 
outraged  and  insulted,  and  my  only  sister  turned  out  of  the 
house  like  a  discarded  menial." 

Had  Mr.  Kennyfeck  been  informed  that  for  courteously 
making  way  for  a  Bencher  in  the  Hall  he  was  stripped  of 
his  gown  and  degraded  from  his  professional  rank,  he  could 
not  have  been  more  thoroughly  amazed  and  thunderstruck. 


A  SPLIT  IN  THE   KENNYFECK  CABINET.  323 

He  actually  gasped  with  excess  of  astonishment,  and,  if 
breath  had  been  left  him,  would  have  spoken ;  but  so  it 
was,  the  very  force  of  the  charge  stunned  him,  and  he  could 
not  utter  a  word. 

Meanwhile,  Mrs.  Kennyfeck,  who  in  the  ardor  of  combat 
had  imitated  certain  Spanish  sailors,  who  in  the  enthusiasm 
of  a  sea-fight  loaded  their  cannons  with  whatever  came 
next  to  hand,  was  actually  shocked  by  the  effect  of  her  own 
fire.  For  the  grandeur  of  a  peroration  she  had  taken  a 
flying  leap  over  all  truth,  and  would  gladly  have  been  safe 
back  again  at  the  other  side  of  the  fence. 

For  an  instant  not  a  word  dropped  from  either  side,  and 
it  was  clear  that  he  who  spoke  first  had  gained  the  victory. 
This  was  the  lady. 

''Go,  sir" — and  she  wiped  her  eyes  with  that  calm 
dignity  by  which  a  scolding  wife  seems  to  call  up  all  Chris- 
tian forgiveness  of  herself,  and  stand  acquitted  before  her 
own  conscience — "go,  sir,  and  find  out  what  these  people 
that  Cashel  has  invited  mean  to  do ;  and  if  it  be  their  inten- 
tion to  repair  to  Tubbermore,  let  us  lose  no  time  in  setting 
out;  and  if  we  are  to  go,  Mr.  Kennyfeck,  let  us  do  so  as 
becomes  us." 

Mr.  Kennyfeck  stifled  a  rising  sigh  —  for  he  knew  what 
the  words  denoted  —  and  departed  ;  while  Mrs.  Kennyfeck, 
with  her  heart  lightened  of  a  heavy  load,  rose  to  join  her 
daughters,  and  discuss  dress  and  "  toilette,"  the  great  com- 
missariat of  the  approaching  campaign. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


STORM    AND     WRECK. 


Tut,  never  mind  the  swell,  love, 

The  sails  may  sweep  the  brine ; 
But  the  craft  will  steer  as  well,  love, 

With  your  soft  hand  in  mine. 

The   Cruise. 

It  was  upon  a  delicious  evening,  a  little  before  sunset,  that 
a  yacht  worked  out  of  the  harbor  of  Kingstown,  all  her 
canvas  spread  to  catch  the  light  air  of  wind,  which  scarcely 
ruffled  the  glassy  surface  of  the  Bay.  The  craft,  with  her 
snow-white  sails,  her  tall  and  taper  spars,  her  gay  bunting 
from  gaff  and  peak,  was  all  that  the  scene  wanted  to  render 
it  a  perfect  picture ;  and  so,  to  all  seeming,  thought  the 
many  spectators  who  crowded  the  pier  and  the  shore,  and 
gazed  with  admiration  at  the  graceful  vessel,  as  she  glided 
silently  above  her  own  image  in  the  water. 

Various  were  the  comments  and  criticisms  from  those  who 
surveyed  her  course ;  some,  in  wondering  conjecture  whither 
she  was  bound ;  others,  not  a  whit  better  informed,  boldly 
affecting  some  secret  knowledge  of  her  destination,  and  even, 
by  such  pretty  pretension,  assuming  airs  of  superiority. 

"  She  belongs  to  that  rich  young  fellow,  Roland  Cashel," 
said  one  of  these,  "  who,  by  the  way,  is  getting  through  his 
fortune  tolerably  fast.  The  story  goes,  that  he  has  spent 
two  hundred  thousand  already,  and  is  borrowing  at  immense 
interest." 

*' Wasn't  he  a  smuggler,  or  a  privateer's-man,  or  some- 
thing of  the  kind  ?  " 

*'  No ;  he  made  all  the  money  in  the  slave  trade." 

''  I  always  heard  that  he  succeeded  to  a  landed  estate," 
softly  insinuated  a  modest-looking  old  gentleman. 


STORM  AND   WRECK.  325 

"  Not  at  all,  sir.  Such,  I  am  aware,  was  the  common 
belief;  the  fact,  however,  is,  that  he  had  invested  large 
sums  in  land,  and  was  then  able  to  escape  the  scrutiny 
many  would  have  instituted  regarding  the  origin  of  his 
wealth." 

"  Who  is  it  he  is  always  riding  with  about  town  —  a  hand- 
some girl,  on  a  brown  horse  ?  " 

"  On  a  gray,  you  mean." 

*'  No,  a  brown,  with  a  bang  tail." 

*'  No,  no,  it 's  a  gray.  She  's  a  daughter  of  Tom  Kenny- 
feck,  the  attorney." 

"  The  gentleman  is  right,"  interposed  a  third.  *'  I  've 
seen  him  very  often  with  a  lady  mounted  on  a  brown 
thorough-bred." 

"Oh!  that's  Lady  Kilgoff,  the  handsomest  woman  in 
Ireland." 

"  She  was  much  better-looking  two  years  ago,"  simpered 
out  an  ensign,  affectedly.  "  I  used  to  dance  with  her  and 
her  sister  at  the  race  balls  of  Ashby." 

The  group  immediately  fell  back,  in  tacit  acknowledgment 
of  the  claim  of  one  so  aristocratically  associated. 

"Did  n't  you  know  her,  Hipsley?"  lisped  out  the  ensign 
to  a  brother  officer,  who  was  admiring  a  very  green  baby  on 
the  arm  of  a  very  blooming  nursery-maid,  "  You  knew  the 
Cray  crofts,  did  n't  you  ?  " 

"  Lady  Kilgoff's  maiden  name,  sir,  was  Gardiner,"  said 
the  timid  old  gentleman  who  spoke  before. 

The  ensign  stuck  his  glass  in  one  eye,  and  gazed  at  him 
for  a  second  or  two,  with  consummate  effrontery,  and  tlien, 
in  a  voice  intended  for  the  most  cutting  drollery,  said,  — 

"Are  you  certain  it  wasn't  'Snooks'?"  —  a  rejoinder 
so  infinitely  amusing  that  the  bystanders  laughed  im- 
moderately, and  the  bashful  man  retired,  overwhelmed  in 
confusion. 

'*  They  're  off  for  a  good  long  cruise,"  said  one,  looking 
through  his  pocket  telescope  at  the  yacht,  which  now  was 
steering  to  the  southward,  with  a  fresher  breeze. 

"I  suspect  so.  They  took  on  board  five  or  six  hampers 
from  the  hotel,  just  before  they  sailed." 

A  very  warm  controversy  now  arose  as  to  where  the  yacht 


326  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

was  bound  for,  and  who  were  the  parties  who  went  on  board 
of  her  in  the  harbor ;  points  which,  in  the  absence  of  all  real 
knowledge,  admitted  of  a  most  animated  debate.  Meanwhile, 
an  old  weather-beaten  sailor,  in  a  pilot  coat,  continued  to 
gaze  alternately  from  the  sky  to  the  sea,  and  back  again, 
and  at  last  murmured  to  himself,  — 

"  They  '11  catch  it  before  midnight,  if  they  don't  haul 
their  wind,  and  get  into  shelter." 

Some  drifting  clouds,  dropping  slight  rain  as  they  passed, 
soon  after  cleared  the  pier  of  its  loiterers,  and  night  fell, 
dark  and  starless,  while  the  wind  freshened,  and  the  sea 
fretted  and  chafed  upon  the  rocks,  and  even  sent  its  spray 
high  against  the  strong  lighthouse. 

Let  us  now  quit  the  shore,  and  bear  company  with  the 
party  on  board,  who,  having  dined  sumptuously,  sat  sip- 
ping their  coffee  on  deck,  while  the  swift  craft  skimmed 
the  calm  waters  of  the  bay,  and  unfolded  in  her  course 
the  beautiful  panorama  of  the  shore  —  the  bold  steep  bluff 
of  Brayhead,  the  curved  strand  of  Killiney,  the  two  "  Sugar 
Loaves"  rising  from  the  bosom  of  dark  woods,  and,  in  the 
distance,  the  higher  chain  of  the  Wicklow  mountains,  while 
on  the  opposite  side  Howth  seemed  like  a  blue  island  stud- 
ding the  clear  surface  of  the  bay.  Lord  Kilgoff  and  Mr. 
Sickleton  paid  but  passing  attention  to  the  bright  picture 
around.  A  learned  discussion  on  naval  matters,  wherein 
my  Lord  took  the  opportunity  of  storing  his  mind  with  a 
goodly  stock  of  technicals,  to  be  used  at  some  future  occa- 
sion, occupied  them  altogether,  leaving  her  Ladyship  and 
Roland  Cashel  to  the  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  the  scene 
and  its  associations. 

They  paid  the  highest  tribute  the  picturesque  can  exact 
—  they  sat  in  silence  watching  the  changing  tints,  which 
from  red  faded  to  violet,  then  gray,  and  at  last  grew  dark 
with  closing  night,  while  the  wind  freshening  sent  the  sea 
rushing  swiftly  past,  and  made  their  light  craft  heave  and 
pitch  heavily. 

*'  We  are  returning  to  Kingstown,  I  trust?  "  said  my  Lord 
to  Sickleton,  who  had  left  him  for  a  moment,  to  give  orders 
about  shortening  sail.  * '  It  appears  to  me  like  a  threatening 
night." 


STORM  AND  WRECK.  32T 

**  It  looks  dirty,  my  Lord,"  said  Sickleton,  dryly,  as  he 
walked  aft  with  the  pilot,  and  conferred  with  him  in  a  low 
tone. 

"  Are  we  making  for  Kingstown,  Mr.  Cashel?  "  said  my 
Lord,  in  a  voice  he  was  not  able  to  divest  of  anxiety. 

''I  believe  not,"  said  Cashel,  rising,  and  approaching  the 
compass.  ''  No,  we  are  lying  down  channel  straight  as  we 
can  go." 

*'Ay,  and  very  well  for  us  that  we  can  do  it,"  growled 
out  the  pilot.  "If  we  make  the  Hook  Light  before  we  tack, 
I  shall  say  we  're  lucky." 

"Does  he  mean  there  is  any  danger,  Mr.  Cashel?"  said 
Lady  Kilgoff,  but  in  a  voice  devoid  of  tremor. 

"None  whatever;  but  I  am  sadly  distressed  at  having 
carried  you  out  so  far,  since  I  find  that  in  the  present  state 
of  the  tide,  and  with  the  wind  still  driving  more  to  the  north, 
we  cannot  bear  up  for  Kingstown,  but  must  run  along  the 
shore." 

"Think  nothing  of  that,"  said  she,  gayly ;  "  real  peril  I 
have  no  fancy  for  —  a  mere  inconvenience  is  of  no  moment 
whatever ;  but  "  —  here  she  dropped  her  voice  very  low  — 
"say  something  to  my  Lord  —  give  him  some  encourage- 
ment." 

"It  blows  fresh,  my  Lord,  and  if  it  were  not  for  the 
trespass  on  your  comfort,  I  should  almost  rejoice  at  the 
occasion  of  showing  you  my  yacht's  qualities  as  a  sailing- 
boat." 

"I  should  prefer  taking  your  word  for  them,  sir,"  said 
Lord  Kilgoff,  tartly;  "  a  pleasure-trip  is  one  thing,  a  night 
in  a  small  vessel  exposed  to  a  heavy  gale  is  another." 

"You  're  right,  my  Lord,"  said  the  pilot,  who  heard 
but  a  part  of  the  observation;  "it  will  be  a  gale  before 
morning." 

"Luff!  luff,  there!"  shouted  Sickleton;  and  at  the  same 
instant  a  heavy  sea  thundered  against  the  bow  and  broke 
over  the  fore  part  of  the  vessel  with  a  crashing  sound. 

"I  think  when  we  see  the  lighthouse  of  Kingstown  so 
near  us,"  said  Lord  Kilgoff,  "there  ought  to  be  no  great 
difficulty  in  returning." 

"That 's  not  the  harbor-light  you  see  yonder  —  that 's  the 


328  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Kish,  my  Lord,"  said  the  pilot.     "Keep  her  up,  my  man, 
keep  her  up,  the  wind  is  freshening." 

"Will  you  indeed  forgive  me  for  this  disastrous  turn  of 
our  cruise?"  said  Cashel,  as  he  fastened  his  boat-cloak 
around  Lady  Kilgoff's  throat,  after  several  vain  efforts  to 
induce  her  to  go  below. 

"If  you  only  prevent  my  Lord  from  scolding,  I  shall 
enjoy  it  immensely,"  said  she,  in  a  half  whisper. 

"I  trust.  Lady  Kilgoff,"  said  his  Lordship,  approaching, 
and  steadying  himself  by  the  bulwarks,  "that  this  night's 
experience  will  induce  you  to  distrust  your  own  judgment 
when  in  opposition  to  mine.  I  foresaw  the  whole  of  it.  It 
is  now  blowing  a  fierce  gale  —  " 

"Not  a  bit  of  it,  my  Lord,"  interposed  the  pilot,  bluntly; 
"but  it  will  blow  great  guns  'fore  daybreak,  or  I  'm 
mistaken." 

"And  where  shall  we  be  then?"  asked  my  Lord,  queru- 
lously. 

"Rayther  hard  to  tell,"  said  the  pilot,  laughing.  "If 
she  be  as  good  a  sea-boat  as  they  say,  and  that  we  don't 
carry  away  any  of  our  spars,  we  may  run  for  Cove.  I 
take  it  —  " 

"For  Cove!  Gracious  mercy!  and  if  she  be  not  as  good 
a  vessel  as  it  is  said  she  is,  sir,  what  then,  pray?  " 

The  pilot  made  no  reply,  but  gave  orders  to  set  the  jib, 
as  she  was  laboring  too  much  by  the  head. 

The  wind  increased,  and  with  it  the  sea,  which,  dividing 
at  the  bow,  fell  in  great  cataracts  over  the  vessel,  sweeping 
along  the  entire  deck  at  every  plunge  she  gave. 

"I  wish  she  were  a  little  deeper  in  the  water,"  whispered 
Sickleton  to  Cashel.  "We  have  n't  within  fifteen  tons  of 
our  ballast  on  board.  But  she  's  a  sweet  craft,  ain't  she? 
Keep  her,  there — ^ steady,  man." 

"We  could  n't  stand  round  in  stays,  and  bear  up  for  the 
harbor?  "  asked  Cashel,  on  whom  Lord  Kilgoff's  face  of 
misery  had  made  a  strong  impression. 

"Impossible!  At  least  the  pilot,  who  knows  this  coast 
well,  says  tliere  is  a  shore  current  here  runs  eight  knots." 

"What  shall  we  do  with  him?  He  '11  scarce  live  through 
the  night." 


STORM   AND  WRECK.  329 

*'Let  us  get  him  down  below,  and,  once  snug  in  a  berth, 
he  '11  fall  asleep,  and  forget  everything." 

Cashel  shook  his  head  doubtfully,  but  determined  to  try 
the  plan  at  all  hazards. 

"Would  my  Lord  be  persuaded  to  lie  down,  do  you 
think?"  said  Roland,  approaching  Lady  Kilgoff,  who, 
enveloped  in  the  folds  of  the  heavy  boat-cloak,  sat  calm 
and  collected  near  the  wheel. 

"Is  there  danger?"  asked  she,  hurriedly. 

"Not  the  least;  but  he  seems  so  ill,  and  every  sea  rushes 
over  him  as  he  stands." 

"You  should  go  down,  my  dear  Lord,"  said  she,  address- 
ing him;  "Mr.  Cashel  is  afraid  you  '11  catch  cold  here?" 

"Ah,  is  he  indeed?"  said  Lord  Kilgoff,  in  a  snappish 
asperity.  "He  is  too  good  to  bestow  a  thought  upo» 
me." 

"I  am  only  anxious,  my  Lord,  that  you  shouldn't  suffer 
from  your  complaisance  so  unhappily  rewarded." 

"Very  kind,  exceedingly  kind,  sir.  It  is,  as  you  say, 
most  unhappy  —  a  perfect  storm,  a  hurricane.  Gracious 
mercy!  what 's  that?  " 

This  exclamation  was  caused  by  a  loud  smash,  like  the 
report  of  a  cannon-shot,  and  at  the  same  moment  the  taper 
topmast  fell  crashing  down,  with  all  its  cordage  clattering 
round  it.  The  confusion  of  the  accident,  the  shouting  of 
voices,  the  thundering  splash  of  the  sea,  as,  the  peak  having 
fallen,  the  craft  had  lost  the  steadying  influence  of  the 
mainsail,  all  seemed  to  threaten  immediate  danger.  Cashel 
was  about  to  spring  forward  and  assist  in  cutting  away  the 
entangled  rigging,  when  he  felt  his  hand  firmly  grasped  by 
another,  whose  taper  fingers  left  no  doubt  to  whom  it 
belonged. 

"Don't  be  alarmed  —  it  is  nothing,"  whispered  he. 
encouragingly;  "the  mishap  is  repaired  in  a  second." 

"You'll  not  leave  me,"  said  she,  in  a  low  tone,  which 
thrilled  through  every  fibre  of  his  heart.  He  pressed  her 
hand  more  closely,  and  tried,  but  in  vain,  to  catch  a 
glimpse  at  her  face. 

Meanwhile  the  disordered  rigging  had  been  repaired,  and 
two  men  under  Sickleton's  direction,  lifting  the  drooping 


330  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

and  scarce  conscious  peer  from  the  deck,  carried  him  down 
below. 

If  the  old  instincts  of  Roland  Cashel's  sailor  life  would 
have  rendered  the  scene  interesting  to  him,  watching  as  he 
did  the  way  his  craft  "behaved,"  and  marking  w^ell  the  fine 
qualities  she  possessed  as  a  sea-boat,  there  was  another 
and  far  more  intense  feeling  then  occupying  him  as  he  stood 
close  beside  that  swathed  and  muffled  figure,  who,  pale  and 
silent,  marked  by  some  gesture,  from  time  to  time,  her 
dependence  upon  him.  To  Roland,  the  rattle  of  the  gale, 
the  hissing  sea,  the  strained  and  creaking  cordage,  all, 
not  only  brought  back  old  memories  of  his  once  life,  but 
effectually  seemed  to  dispel  the  colder  mood  of  mind  which 
admixture  with  the  world  of  fashion  had  impressed  upon 
him.  He  was  again,  if  not  in  reality,  in  heart  and  spirit, 
the  bold  buccaneer  that  walked  the  Western  seas,  bursting 
with  life,  and  eager  for  adventure.  Every  plunge  that  sent 
the  bowsprit  down,  every  squall  that  bent  the  taper  mast, 
and  laid  the  vessel  half-seas  under,  inspirited  and  excited 
him,  not  the  less  that  the  wild  storm  called  forth  every  form 
of  encouragement  to  her,  who  vibrated  between  actual 
terror  and  a  strange  sense  of  delight. 

Roland  lay  at  her  feet,  partly  as  a  barrier  against  the 
surging  water  that,  breaking  over  the  bow,  swept  the  entire 
deck,  partly  that  he  might  mark  those  beauteous  features, 
on  which  the  binnacle  light  occasionally  cast  its  glare. 

"It  is  fine,"  murmured  she,  in  a  low,  soft  voice,  "and  I 
almost  feel  as  if  my  own  terrors  should  serve  to  heighten 
the  sense  of  ecstasy.     I  tremble  while  I  delight  in  it." 

There  was  an  expression  of  intense  excitement  in  her 
eyes  as  she  spoke,  and  her  pale  features  for  an  instant 
flushed,  as  Roland's  look  met  hers. 

**How  I  glory  in  your  words,"  cried  he,  wild  with  enthu- 
siasm; "I  feel  like  one  who  suddenly  awakes  to  life  out 
of  some  long  and  dreary  sleep,  —  rather  this  is  the  sleep, 
this  is  itself  the  vision  in  which  I  lie,  here,  beneath  your 
smile,  while  we  are  borne  onward  through  the  hissing  foam. 
Oh,  would  it  but  last  —  would  that  this  dark  and  starless 
night  could  be  for  years,  and  that  we  might  thus  cleave  the 
black  waters  on  and  on!  " 


STORM  AND  WRECK.  831 

"  And  whither  to  ?  "  asked  she,  in  a  whisper  scarcely 
breathed. 

"Whither  to?"  echoed  he;  "what  matters  it,  while  we 
journey  thus?  The  sun-tipped  icebergs  of  the  North  Sea, 
or  the  rosy  mountains  of  the  Spice  Island;  the  balmy  shores 
of  Quito,  or  the  bleak  coast  of  Labrador  —  all  are  alike  to 
me." 

"A  large  vessel  under  the  lee!  "  sang  out  a  voice  from  the 
bow,  and  the  cry  was  repeated  still  louder,  while  the  pilot 
shouted,  "Show  a  light  at  the  mast-head;  put  your  helm 
hard  up!  "  The  double  command  was  scarce  obeyed,  when 
a  huge  black  mass  heaved  past  them,  her  great  yards  almost 
seeming  to  grate  the  cordage.  The  looming  size  of  the 
immense  object  that  towered  overhead,  and  the  death-like 
stillness  of  the  yacht's  crew  till  the  danger  was  past,  thrilled 
with  a  cold  terror  through  her,  and  instinctively  she 
grasped  Roland's  hand  more  closely.  The  gale  had  now 
become  furious,  and  as  the  light  spars  were  barely  able  to 
sustain  even  the  little  canvas  spread,  the  sea  swept  over 
the  vessel  as  she  lay  storm-tossed  and  scarce  navigable. 
The  hatches  were  fastened  down,  the  boats  strongly  secured, 
and  every  precaution  of  seamanship  adopted;  and  so  long 
as  these  were  in  performance,  and  a  certain  activity  and 
bustle  prevailed,  so  long  did  Lady  Kilgoff's  courage  appear 
tc  support  her;  but  when  all  was  done,  and  the  men 
resumed  their  places  in  watchful  silence,  and  her  mind  was 
left  to  the  contemplation  of  the  raging  hurricane  alone, 
she  seemed  to  sink,  and,  with  a  faint,  low  sigh,  glided  from 
the  seat  and  fell  fainting  to  the  deck. 

"You  cannot  take  her  below,"  said  Sickleton,  as  Cashel, 
raising  her  in  his  arms,  was  about  to  carry  her  to  the  cabin; 
"we  dare  not  open  the  hatches.  See,  there  it  comes  again !  " 
and,  as  he  spoke,  a  great  wave  broke  over  the  vessel's 
quarter  and  fell  in  torrents  over  the  deck,  washing,  as  it 
receded,  several  loose  spars  overboard.  By  the  aid  of 
coats  and  cloaks  innumerable,  Cashel  at  last  succeeded  in 
enveloping  the  fair  form  beside  him,  and  supporting  her 
head  upon  his  arm  as  he  sat,  he  saw,  to  his  unspeakable 
delight,  that  she  soon  dropped  into  a  calm  sleep. 

"This  is  a  disastrous  bit  of  pleasuring,"  said  Sickleton, 


832  ROLAND   CASHEL. 

as  he  stood  holding  on  by  one  of  the  braces;  "who  could 
have  supposed  such  a  gale  was  brewing?  " 

'*Well,  well,"  replied  Cashel,  ''if  it  comes  no  worse  —  " 

"If  it  does,  we  can't  stand  through  it,  that's  all,"  said 
the  lieutenant,  dryly.  "The  old  pilot  says  we  shall  have 
to  make  a  tack  to  keep  clear  of  the  Hook ;  but  what  boat 
can  sail  on  a  wind  with  a  storm-jib  and  three-reefed 
topsail  ?  " 

"She  behaves  nobly,"  said  Roland,  as  he  gazed  at  the 
sleeping  form,  to  guard  which  seemed  all  his  care. 

Sickleton  mistook  the  remark,  and  said,  "Ay,  that  I 
knew  she  would;  but  the  sea  is  tremendous  for  a  small 
craft,  and  see  how  close  we  have  the  land  under  our  lee  — 
that  black  mass  yonder." 

"I  'd  give  all  I  own  in  the  world  that  she  were  safe  on 
shore,"  murmured  Cashel,  not  heeding  the  other's  observa- 
tion; "I  cannot  forgive  myself  for  having  induced  her  to 
venture  out." 

The  lieutenant  made  no  reply,  but  peered  for  a  few 
seconds  through  the  skylight  of  the  cabin.  "My  Lord  is 
lying  like  a  dead  man,"  said  he;  "fright  and  sea-sickness 
together  have  nearly  done  for  him,  and  yet  it  was  only  two 
hours  back  he  thought  he  'd  make  a  good  figure  at  the 
Admiralty.  There,"  continued  he,  "day  is  breaking  yon- 
der; we  shall  soon  know  our  fate;  if  the  gale  freshens  after 
sunrise,  it  is  all  up  with  us." 

"  Run  the  craft  in  shore  and  I  '11  engage  to  save  ^e?',"  said 
Cashel,  eagerly.  "I  'm  a  strong  swimmer  in  surf;  I  rescued 
a  Malabar  girl  once,  and  in  a  sea  nearly  as  heavy  as  this." 

Sickleton  smiled  incredulously,  and  turned  away. 

"It  is  freshening,  by  Jove!  "  said  he,  as  a  squall  struck 
the  vessel,  and  laid  her  almost  on  her  beam  ends,  while 
every  plank  shivered  as  though  she  were  rending  in  pieces. 

"It's  coming  stronger,  sir,"  said  the  pilot,  as  he  shook 
the  sea  from  his  rough  coat  and  brnt  his  gaze  steadfastly 
towards  the  east;  "I  'd  rather  not  see  that  red  sunrise. 
Keep  her  away,  man,  keep  her  away!  " 

"Shall  we  try  it?  "  muttered  Sickleton,  to  some  whispered 
observations  of  the  other. 

"We  may  as   well,"    rejoined   the   pilot;  "she  '11   never 


STORM  AND   WRECK.  333 

hold  steerage  way  with  her  present  canvas,  and  if  she 
won't  bear  the  mainsail  we  must  go  on  shore,  and  no 
help  for  it." 

"Bear  a  hand  there,  boys!"  cried  Sickleton;  "shake  out 
the  mainsail !  " 

"You  '11  carry  away  the  mast,"  cried  Cashel,  as  he  heard 
the  order. 

"It 's  like  enough,"  growled  the  pilot,  "but  yonder  's  the 
lee-shore." 

"I  could  save  her  —  I  'm  certain  I  could  save  her,"  said 
Cashel. 

"He's  thinking  of  the  lady,"  said  the  pilot  to  Sickleton; 
and  the  contemptuous  tone  showed  how  humbly  he  esti- 
mated him. 

"Breakers  ahead!  —  shoal  water!"  shouted  a  voice  from 
the  bow. 

"'Bout  ship!"  cried  Sickleton;  "stand  by  sheets  and 
tacks  there  —  down  helm !  Are  ye  ready,  men  ?  "  And  the 
next  moment  the  obedient  vessel  spun  round,  and  was 
cleaving  the  water  on  another  tack. 

"What  is  it?  where  am  I?  is  this  a  dream?  "  said  Lady 
Kilgoff,  as  she  moved  back  the  hair  from  her  eyes,  and 
looked  up  at  Cashel,  who  for  hours  had  never  moved  or 
stirred. 

"To  me  it  has  been  a  delicious  dream,"  said  Cashel,  as 
he  met  her  glance;  "and  if  it  were  not  that  3^ou  may  feel 
alarmed,  it  would  be  still  such." 

"What  a  terrible  sea!     Where  are  M^e?  " 

"Not  far  from  shore,"  said  Cashel,  encouragingly. 

"A  devilish  deal  too  near  it,  though,"  muttered  the 
pilot,  under  his  breath. 

"Oh,  I  remember  all  now.  Where  is  my  Lord,  ]Mr. 
Cashel?     Is  he  ill?" 

"He's  gone  below  —  he  is  sleeping,  I  believe.  It  has 
been  a  wild  night  for  you  ;  and  you  've  passed  it  here  on  the 
deck." 

"Here?"  said  she,  looking  up  and  blushing,  for  she  still 
lay  supported  against  Roland,  and  one  of  his  hands  held 
the  boat-cloak  across  her. 

"Yes,  here,"  said  Cashel,  with  a  voice  and  manner  that 


gB4  HOLAND  CASHEL. 

made  the  color  mount  to  her  cheeks  and  as  suddenly  desert 
them  again. 

Meanwhile  the  lieutenant  had  gone  below,  and  reappeared 
with  a  chart,  over  which  he  and  the  pilot  now  bent  in  the 
deepest  consideration. 

'*Then  that  must  have  been  the  '  Calf  '  Light  we  saw  to 
the  eastward,"  said  Sickleton,  pointing  to  the  map. 

''I  'd  say  so  too,"  replied  the  other,  "if  such  a  run  did  n't 
seem  impossible;  but  we  only  tripped  our  anchor  last  night 
before  sunset." 

"Ten  hours,  though!  — one  can  do  a  deal  in  ten  hours!  " 
said  the  lieutenant. 

"It  may  be  worth  as  many  years  sometimes!  "  said 
Cashel,  in  a  whisper  to  her  at  his  side. 

"  Breakers  right  ahead !  "  shouted  the  man  at  the  bow. 

"We  're  among  the  '  Barrels!  '  "  cried  the  pilot;  "back 
the  topsail!  down  mainsail!  — " 

But  it  was  too  late!  Like  a  sea-bird  rising  to  its  flight, 
the  light  craft  bounded  forward,  till  her  shining  copper 
glanced  above  the  waves,  and  then,  with  a  spring,  dashed 
onward,  amid  the  foam  and  spray  that  rose  like  a  mist 
around  her.  The  frothy  shower  flew  over  the  deck,  while 
the  hissing  water  spurted  up  on  every  side  with  a  crashing, 
splintering  sound.  The  keel  came  down,  and  while  a  loud 
cry  broke  forth,  "She's  struck!"  the  mast  snapped  sud- 
denly across,  and  fell  with  its  draped  rigging  into  the  sea. 

"Standby!  cut  away  the  boats !  "  shouted  Sickleton ;  and 
seizing  a  hatchet,  gave  the  example  himself,  while  Cashel, 
lifting  the  now  lifeless  form  of  Lady  Kilgofif,  placed  her  in 
the  boat.  The  confusion  and  terror  became  now  extreme. 
The  breaking  sea  had  already  forced  its  way  through  the 
vessel's  bottom,  and  issued  in  a  clear  jet  of  blue  water  from 
the  hatchways.  The  first  boat  launched  was  rapidly 
crowded,  and  scarcely  had  it  touched  the  water  than  it  was 
swamped.  For  an  instant  the  struggling  figures  were  seen 
battling  with  the  waves,  but  in  a  moment  after  they  were 
gone! 

Mainly  through  Sickleton  and  Cashel 's  exertions,  the 
second  boat  was  got  ready,  and  just  about  to  be  launched, 
when  Roland  turned  to  seek  Lord  Kilgoff,  whom,  up  to  that 


STORM  AND   WRECK.  335 

moment,  he  had  entirely  forgotten.  Scarcely  had  he  reached 
the  binnacle,  when  the  old  man,  pale  and  almost  dead  with 
terror,  stood  before  him.  "Is  she  safe,  sir?  —  is  my  Lady 
safe  ?  "  cried  he,  tremulously. 

"Quite  so;  come  along,  there  's  not  a  moment  to  lose." 

"Oh,  Mr.  Cashel,  do  not  leave  me!  "  cried  Lady  Kilgoff, 
as  the  boat  was  lifted  from  its  place,  and  swung  by  the 
halyards  from  side  to  side. 

"You  cannot  surely  resist  that  appeal,  sir,"  said  Lord 
Kilgoff,  his  withered  and  worn  features  flushed  with  a 
pang  of  sudden  anger. 

"I  must  see  to  your  safety,  my  Lord,  or  none  else  is 
likely  to  do  it,"  said  Cashel,  sternly;  and  as  he  spoke  he 
lifted  the  old  man  and  placed  him  in  the  boat.  "Stay 
where  you  are,  Sickleton,"  cried  he  to  the  lieutenant;  "I  '11 
cut  her  adrift.  So  there !  my  boys,  all  together  —  larboard 
now."  And  as  the  vessel  heaved  over  to  the  surge,  the 
boat  was  launched.  A  shrill  cry  of  terror  was  heard  above 
the  raging  storm;  for  Cashel,  in  his  eagerness  to  secure 
the  others'  safety,  had  perilled  his  own,  and  now  the  boil- 
ing surf  rushed  between  the  yacht  and  the  boat,  defying 
every  effort  to  approach. 

"Never  fear  for  me,"  said  Roland,  boldly;  "the  distance 
is  short,  and  I've  swum  in  many  a  heavier  surf."  And 
he  swung  himself,  as  he  spoke,  by  a  loose  stay  into  the  sea. 
Nobly  breasting  the  mad  waves,  he  was  seen  at  intervals, 
now  borne  on  the  white-crested  billows,  now  deep  down  in 
the  dark  trough  of  waters.  His  Indian  teaching  had  taught 
him,  too,  to  dive  at  times  through  the  coming  surf,  and 
thus  escape  its  force,  and  so  did  he  emerge  from  the  great 
mass  of  waters  that  seemed  almost  to  have  buried  him. 
Bending  to  the  oars,  the  boat's  crew  pulled  numfully  through 
the  tide,  and  at  last  gaining  a  little  bay,  floated  into  calm 
water,  just  as  Cashel  had  got  a  footing  on  a  reef  of  rock,  a 
short  distance  from  land. 

"Safe!"  cried  he,  as  he  drew  his  wearied  limbs  up  the 
little  craggy  eminence,  from  which  he  could  see  the  yacht 
still  storm-lashed  and  heaving,  and  follow  with  his  eyes 
the  boat,  as  with  bounding  speed  she  made  for  shore. 

No  sooner  had  Sickleton  safely  landed  his  freight  than 


336  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

he  put  out  again  to  rescue  those  in  the  yacht,  while  Cashel, 
bruised,  bleeding,  and  torn,  made  his  way  slowly  to  the 
little  hut  where  Lord  and  Lady  Kilgoff  had  taken  shelter. 

His  entrance  was  little  noticed.  The  cabin  was  full  of 
country  people  and  fishermen,  —  some  earnestly  proffering 
advice  and  counsel,  others  as  eagerly  questioning  all  about 
the  recent  calamity.  In  a  great  straw  chair,  beside  the  fire, 
sat  Lord  Kilgoff,  his  head  resting  on  a  country-woman's 
shoulder,  while  another  bathed  his  temples  to  restore 
animation. 

"Where  is  she?"  said  Cashel,  passionately;  and  the 
tone  and  look  of  the  speaker  turned  attention  towards  him. 

'*  'T  is  her  husband,"  whispered  the  woman  of  the  house, 
courtesying  respectfully  to  the  youth,  who,  in  all  the  torn 
disorder  of  his  dress,  looked  the  gentleman;  and  with  that 
she  drew  him  into  an  inner  room,  where  upon  a  low  settle 
lay  the  pale  and  scarce  breathing  form  of  Lady  Kilgoff. 

"Don't  be  af eared,  yer  honer,  she  '11  be  betther  in  a 
minute  or  two.  She  has  more  courage  than  her  father 
there,"  and  she  pointed  to  the  outside  room  where  Lord 
Kilgoff  sat.  *'  Indeed,  the  first  word  she  spoke  was  about 
yerself . " 

Cashel  made  a  gesture  to  be  silent,  and  sat  down  beside 
the  settle,  his  gaze  fixed  on  the  features,  which,  in  their 
calm  loveliness,  had  never  seemed  more  beautiful. 

The  stillness  that  now  reigned  in  the  little  cabin,  only 
broken  by  the  low  whisperings  without,  the  calm  tran- 
quillity so  suddenly  succeeding  to  the  terrible  convulsion, 
the  crowd  of  sensations  pressing  on  the  brain,  and,  above 
all,  the  immense  fatigue  he  had  gone  through,  brought  on 
such  a  sense  of  stupor  that  Cashel  fell  heavily  on  the  floor, 
and  with  his  head  leaning  against  the  settle,  fell  into  a 
sound  sleep. 

Before  evening  had  closed  in  most  of  the  party  had  recov- 
ered from  their  fatigues,  and  sat  grouped  in  various  atti- 
tudes round  the  blazing  fire  of  the  cabin.  In  a  deep, 
old-fashioned  straw  chair,  reclined,  rather  than  sat.  Lady 
Kilgoff;  a  slightly  feverish  flush  lent  a  brilliancy  to  her 
otherwise  pale  features,  deepening  the  expression  of  her  full 
soft   eyes,  and  giving  a  more   animated   character  to  the 


STORM   AND   WRECK. 


337 


placid  beauty  of  her  face.  Her  hair,  in  all  the  loose  free- 
dom of  its  uncared  for  state,  fell  in  great  voluptuous  masses 
along  her  neck  and  shoulders,  while  part  of  a  finely-turned, 
arm  peeped  out  beneath  the  folds  of  the  wide  scarlet  cloak 
which  the  fisherman's  wife  had  lent  her  in  lieu  of  her  own 
costly  "Cashmere." 

Next  to  her  sat  Roland;  and  although  dressed  in  the 
rough  jacket  of  a  sailor,  his  throat  encircled  by  a  rude 
cravat  of  colored  worsted,  he  seemed  in  the  very  costume 


«-ie>>^;J  «4T-a- 


to  have  regained  some  of  his  long-lost  joyousness,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  sad  event  of  the  night,  to  be  in  a  very 
ecstasy  of  high  spirits.  Sickleton,  too,  seemed  like  one 
who  regarded  the  whole  adventure  as  a  circumstance  too 
common-place  for  much  thought,  and  busied  himself  writ- 
ing letters  to  various  persons  at  Cashel's  dictation,  sorely 
puzzled  from  time  to  time  to  follow  out  the  thread  of 
an  intention,  which  Roland's  devotion  to  the  lady  at  his 
side  more  than  once  interrupted. 

The  most  disconsolate  and  woe-begone  of  all  was  the  poor 
peer,  who,   propped    up  by  cushions,   sat  with    unmeaning 
gaze  steadily  riveted  on  the  fire.     There  was  something  so 
VOL.  I.  —  22 


338  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

horribly  absurd,  too,  in  the  costume  in  which  he  was  clad, 
that  converted  all  pity  into  a  sense  of  ridicule.  A  great 
wide  pea-jacket  encircled  his  shrunken,  wasted  figure  to  the 
knees,  where  the  thin  attenuated  legs  appeared,  clad  in  blue 
worsted  stockings,  whose  wide  folds  fell  in  a  hundred 
wrinkles  around  them;  a  woollen  cap  of  red  and  orange 
stripes  covered  his  head,  giving  a  most  grotesque  expres- 
sion to  the  small  and  fine-cut  features  of  his  face.  If  Lady 
Kilgoff  and  Cashel  had  not  been  too  much  interested  on 
other  topics,  they  could  not  have  failed  to  discover,  in  the 
occasional  stealthy  glances  that  Sickleton  cast  on  the  old 
lord,  that  the  costume  had  been  a  thing  of  his  own  devis- 
ing, and  that  the  rakish  air  of  the  nightcap,  set  sideways 
on  the  head,  was  owing  to  the  sailor's  inveterate  fondness 
for  a  joke,  no  matter  how  ill-timed  the  moment  or  ill-suited 
the  subject  of  it. 

Behind  them,  and  in  a  wider  circle,  sat  the  fisherman  and 
his  family,  the  occasional  flash  of  the  fire  lighting  up  the 
gloom  where  they  sat,  and  showing,  as  in  a  Rembrandt,  the 
strong  and  vigorous  lines  of  features  where  health  and 
hardship  were  united  —  the  whole  forming  in  the  light  and 
shadow  a  perfect  subject  for  a  painter. 

From  the  first  moment  of  the  mishap,  Lord  Kilgoff  had 
sunk  into  a  state  of  almost  child-like  imbecilitj^,  neither 
remembering  where  he  was,  nor  taking  interest  in  anything, 
an  occasional  fractious  or  impatient  remark  at  some  pass- 
ing inconvenience  being  all  the  evidence  he  gave  of  thought. 
It  devolved,  therefore,  upon  Cashel  to  make  every  arrange- 
ment necessary,  —  an  assumption  on  his  part  which  his 
natural  respect  and  delicacy  made  no  small  difficulty.  As 
for  Lady  Kilgoff,  she  appeared  implicitly  to  yield  to  his 
judgment  on  every  point;  and  when  Roland  suggested  that, 
instead  of  returning  to  Dublin  and  all  its  inevitable  rumors, 
they  should  at  once  proceed  to  Tubbermore,  she  assented 
at  once,  and  most  willingly. 

It  was  with  this  object,  then,  that  Sickleton  sat,  pen  in 
hand,  making  notes  of  Cashel's  directions,  and  from  time 
to  time  writing  at  his  dictation  to  various  tradesmen  whose 
services  he  stood  in  need  of.  It  would  certainly  have 
called  for  a  clearer  head,  and  a  calmer  than  Roland's,  to 


STORM  AND  WRECK.  339 

have  conducted  the  conversation  with  the  lady  and  the 
command  to  the  gentleman,  who  sat  at  either  side  of  him. 
Many  a  sad  blunder  did  he  make,  and  more  than  once  did 
the  reply  intended  for  her  Ladyship  find  its  way  into  the 
epistle  of  the  lieutenant,  nor  did  the  mistake  appear  till  a 
reading  of  the  document  announced  it.  At  these,  a  burst 
of  laughter  was  sure  to  break  forth,  and  then  my  Lord 
would  look  up,  and,  passing  his  fingers  across  his  temples, 
seem  trying  to  recall  his  lost  and  wandering  faculties  — 
efforts  that  the  changeful  play  of  his  features  showed  to  be 
alternately  failing  and  succeeding,  as  reason,  tide-like, 
ebbed  and  flowed  within  his  brain. 

It  was  as  Sickleton  wrote  down  at  Cashel's  direction  the 
order  for  a  considerable  sum  of  money  to  be  distributed 
among  the  crew  of  the  yacht,  that  Lord  Kilgoff,  catching 
as  it  were  in  a  momentary  lucidness  the  meaning  of  the 
words,  said  aloud,  "This  is  not  munificence,  sir.  I  tell  you 
this  is  the  wasteful  extravagance  of  the  buccaneer,  not  the 
generosity  of  a  true  gentleman." 

The  other  suddenly  started  at  the  words,  and  while  Lady 
Kilgoff's  deep  flush  of  passion  and  Cashel's  look  of  aston- 
ishment exhibited  their  feelings,  Sickleton's  hearty  laugh 
showed  the  racy  enjoyment  deficient  delicacy  can  always 
reap  from  an  awkward  dilemma. 

"But,  my  Lord,  you  mistake  Mr.  Cashel,"  said  Lady 
Kilgoff,  eagerly  bending  forward  as  she  spoke.  "His  noble 
gift  is  to  compensate  these  brave  fellows  for  a  loss,  as  well 
as  reward  them  for  an  act  of  devotion.  —  How  silly  in  me  to 
reason  with  him!  see,  Mr.  Cashel,  his  mind  is  quite  shaken 
by  this  calamity." 

"Your  defence  compensates  a  hundred  such  reproofs," 
said  Cashel,  with  warmth.  "Well,  Mr.  Sickleton,"  said  he, 
anxious  to  quit  a  painful  topic,  "what  of  this  schooner 
yacht  you  spoke  of  awhile  ago?" 

"The  handsomest  craft  that  ever  swam,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant, delighted  to  discuss  a  favorite  theme.  "Lord 
Wellingham  has  married,  and  they  say  won't  keep  her  any 
longer.  You  '11  get  her  for  ten  thousand,  and  the  story  is 
she  cost  about  fourteen." 

"But  perhaps   Mr.    Cashel   may  soon  follow  her  noble 


340  ROLAKD  CASHEL. 

owner's  example,"  said  Lady  Kilgoff,  smiling,  and  with  a 
subdued  look  towards  Roland. 

*' Don't  give  him  bad  counsel,  my  Lady." 

"It  really  does  seem  to  me  a  kind  of  inveteracy  thus  to 
talk  of  buying  a  new  yacht  within  a  few  hours  after  losing 
one." 

"Like  a  widower  looking  out  for  a  new  wife,  I  suppose," 
said  the  lieutenant,  laughing. 

"No,  sir,  I  beg  to  correct  you,"  broke  in  my  Lord,  with 
a  snappishness  that  made  the  hearers  start;  "her  Ladyship 
is  not  yet  a  widow,  although  her  levity  might  seem  to 
imply  it." 

"My  Lord,  I  must  protest  against  this  sarcastic  humor," 
said  she,  with  a  mild  dignity.  "Our  terrible  catastrophe 
may  have  disturbed  your  right  judgment,  but  I  pray  select 
another  theme  for  misconstruction.  Mr.  Cashel,  I  will  wish 
you  a  good-night.  In  the  difficulty  in  which  I  am  placed,  I 
can  only  say  that  my  perfect  confidence  in  your  counsel 
satisfies  me  it  will  be  such  as  you  ought  to  give  and  I  to 
follow." 

"Yes,  sir,  of  course;  when  the  lady  says,  '  Follow,'  I 
hope  you  know  a  gentleman's  devoir  better  than  to  dis- 
obey." These  words  were  uttered  by  the  old  man  with  a 
sneering  impertinence  that  augured  no  absence  of  mind; 
but  ere  the  door  closed  upon  Lady  Kilgoff  his  face  had 
again  put  on  its  former  dull  and  vacant  stare,  and  it  was 
clear  that  the  momentary  intelligence  was  past  and  over. 

"Now,  Sickleton,"  said  Cashel,  as  if  at  length  able  to 
give  his  mind  to  the  details  before  him,  "you  will  haste  to 
Dublin;  send  us  the  carriages  with  all  the  speed  you  can 
muster;  pack  off  her  Ladyship's  maid  and  the  wardrobe, 
and  don't  forget  that  dressing-case  at  Seward's.  I  should 
like  to  have  her  crest  upon  it,  but  there  's  no  time  for  that 
—  besides,  we  should  only  have  more  scandal  in  Dublin 
when  it  got  abroad.  Then  for  Kennyfeck:  tell  him  I  have 
no  money,  and  stand  much  in  need  of  it,  for,  as  my  Lord 
says,  mine  are  buccaneer's  habits;  and  lastly,  run  over  to 
Cowes  and  secure  the  yacht  —  we  must  have  her.  I  'm 
much  mistaken,  or  our  friends  here  will  take  a  cruise  with 
us  among  the  Greek  Islands  one  of  these  days." 


STORM  AND   WRECK.  341 

"Treacherous  navigation,  too!  "  said  Sickleton,  with  a 
dryness  that  seemed  to  imply  more  than  the  mere  words. 

"What  if  it  be,  man!  they  say  there's  nothing  much 
worse  anywhere  than  the  line  of  coast  here  beside  us." 

"Well,  and  have  n't  we  suffered  enough  to  make  us  credit 
the  report?  '*  He  paused,  and  then  dropping  his  voice  to  a 
low  and  cautious  whisper,  added,  "Not  but  that  I  shall  call 
you  lucky  if  all  the  danger  has  ended  with  the  loss  of  the 
vessel." 

"How?  What  do  you  mean?"  asked  Cashel,  in  atone 
of  great  eagerness. 

"Cannot  you  guess?"  said  the  other,  with  an  imperturb- 
able coolness. 

"No,  on  my  honor,  I  haven't  a  thought  whither  your 
words  point." 

"Then,  faith,  the  peril  is  fifty  times  greater  and  nearer 
than  I  suspected,"  cried  he,  warmly.  "When  a  man 
cracks  on  all  that  he  can  carry,  and  more  than  is  safe,  you 
at  least  give  him  credit  for  knowing  the  channel,  and 
understanding  its  bearings;  but  when  he  tells  you  that  he 
neither  knows  the  course  nor  the  soundings,  why  you  set 
him  down  as  mad." 

"I  shall  not  be  ver}'^  far  removed  from  that  condition  if 
you  '11  not  condescend  to  explain  yourself  more  freely," 
said  Cashel,  with  some  irritation  of  manner.  "Where  is 
this  danger?  and  what  is  it?" 

Sickleton  looked  at  him  for  a  second  or  two,  then  at  the 
old  peer;  and,  at  last,  with  a  scarcely  perceptible  move- 
ment of  his  head,  motioned  towards  the  door  by  which 
Lady  Kilgoff  had  just  passed  out. 

"You  surely  cannot  mean  —  you  do  not  suppose  —  " 

"No  matter  what  I  suppose;  all  I  say  is,  there  are  worse 
breakers  ahead  of  you  just  now  than  the  *  Lucciola  '  had 
last  night;  haul  your  wind,  and  draw  off  while  you  have 
time.  Besides,  look  yonder,"  —  and  he  pointed  witli  a 
jerk  of  his  thumb  to  Lord  Kilgoff,  who  still  sat  with  stolid 
gaze  fixed  upon  the  red  embers  of  the  fire,  — "  that  would 
.be  a  victory  with  but  little  honor!" 
,  Cashel  started  to  his  feet,  and,  ])assing  his  hand  over 
"orehead,  seemed,  as  it  were,   trying   to   disabuse   his 


342  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

mind  of  some  painful  illusion.  His  features,  flushed  and 
animated  an  instant  before,  had  grown  almost  livid  in 
pallor;  and  he  stood,  with  one  hand  leaning  on  the  chair 
from  which  he  had  risen,  like  one  recovering  from  a  faint- 
ing fit.  At  last,  and  with  a  voice  husky  and  hoarse  from 
emotion,  he  said,  "Sickleton,  if  I  had  thought  this  —  if,  I 
say,  I  even  believed  what  you  hint  at  possible  —  " 

"Pooh!  pooh!"  broke  in  the  other ;  "why  anchor  in  three 
fathoms  when  you  've  deep  water  beside  you?  You  '11  not 
hug  a  lee-shore  with  a  fresh  breeze  on  your  quarter;  and 
all  I  ask  is,  that  you  'd  not  risk  the  loss  of  that  noble  craft 
merely  that  you  may  spoil  the  wreck." 

Cashel  grasped  the  rough  seaman's  hand  in  both  his  own, 
and  shook  it  with  warmth. 

"lean  only  say  this,"  said  the  bluff  lieutenant,  rising, 
"if  such  be  the  object  of  your  cruises,  you  must  seek 
another  shipmate  than  Bob  Sickleton;  and  so  good-night." 

"Are  you  going?"  said  Cashel,  with  a  sorrowful  voice. 
"I  wish  you  were  not  about  to  leave  thus." 

"I  have  given  you  your  bearings;  that  ought  to  be 
enough  for  you.  Good-night,  once  more."  And  with  this 
the  honest-hearted  lieutenant  threw  his  boat-cloak  around 
him,  and  sallied  forth  to  the  door,  before  which  a  chaise 
was  in  waiting  to  convey  him  to  Dublin. 

As  for  Roland,  his  agitated  and  excited  mind  banished 
all  desire  for  sleep,  and  he  wandered  out  upon  the  beach, 
where,  resolving  many  a  good  intention  for  the  future,  he 
walked  to  and  fro  till  day  was  breaking. 


CHAPTER   XXX. 
MISS  Leicester's  dream  and  its  fulfilment. 

Old  walls  have  mouths  as  well  as  ears. 

The  Convent :  a  Play. 

To  us  of  the  present  day,  who  see  what  Genii  are  guineas, 
fairy  tales  are  mere  allegories.  Your  true  sorcerer  is  a 
credit  "on  Coutts,"  and  anything  may  be  esteemed  within 
his  power  who  reckons  by  tens  of  thousands. 

Tom  Linton  was  experimenting  on  this  problem  some- 
what largely  at  Tubbermore,  where  the  old,  misshapen,  ugly 
house  had  undergone  such  a  series  of  transformations  inside 
and  out  that  the  oldest  inhabitant  might  have  failed  to 
recognize  it.  Roman  cement  and  stucco  —  those  cosmetics 
of  architecture  —  had  given  to  the  front  a  most  plausible 
air;  and  what  with  a  great  flagged  terrace  beneath  and  a 
balustrade  parapet  above,  the  whole  had  put  on  a  wonderful 
look  of  solidity  and  importance.  French  windows  and 
plate-glass,  stuccoed  architraves  and  richly  traceried  bal- 
conies, from  which  access  was  had  to  various  terraces  and 
flower-plats,  contributed  an  appearance  of  lightness  to  the 
building;  and  what  was  lost  in  architectural  elegance, 
was  fully  recompensed  by  convenience  and  facility  of 
enjoyment. 

Within,  the  arrangements  were  excellent,  and,  as  regarded 
the  object  in  view,  perfect;  various  suites  of  apartments, 
so  separated  as  to  be  actually  like  residences,  abounded 
throughout,  so  that  the  guests  might  either  indulge  their 
solitude  undisturbed,  or  mix  in  the  wide  circle  of  the 
general  company.  For  the  latter,  a  magnificent  suite  of 
rooms  led  along  the  entire  basement  story.  Here,  consid- 
ering the  shortness  of  the  time  and  the  diflSculties  eucoun- 


S44  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

tered,  Linton's  skill  was  pre-eminently  distinguished. 
Painting  was  too  slow  a  process  for  such  an  emergency, 
and  accordingly  the  walls  were  hung  with  rich  silks  and 
stuffs  from  the  looms  of  Lyons,  draped  in  a  hundred 
graceful  fashions,  while  the  floors,  laid  down  in  the  rough, 
were  concealed  by  the  massive  texture  of  Persian  carpets, 
the  most  costly  ever  brought  to  this  country.  The  air  of 
comfort  and  "  livableness  "  —  if  we  may  coin  a  word  — 
depicted  on  every  side,  took  away  the  reproach  of  ostenta- 
tious splendor,  which  perhaps  might  have  been  applied  to 
rich  decorations  and  gorgeous  details  in  a  mere  country 
house.  And  this  was  managed  with  no  mean  skill;  and 
he  must  have  been  a  stern  critic  who  could  have  canvassed 
too  rigidly  the  merit  of  appliances  so  manifestly  provided 
for  his  own  enjoyment.  Books  and  pictures  —  the  Penates 
of  domesticity  —  were  there,  and  everything  possible  was 
done  to  give  a  semblance  of  long  habitation  to  that  which 
but  a  few  weeks  back  had  been  a  dreary  ruin. 

A  critical  eye  might  have  detected  in  many  instances  the 
evidences  of  a  more  refined  taste  than  Mr.  Linton's,  and  so 
was  it.  Miss  Leicester  had  frequently  aided  him  by  her 
advice  and  suggestions,  and  every  day,  when  the  weather 
permitted,  saw  old  Mr.  Corrigan  and  his  granddaughter 
repair  to  Tubbermore,  whose  progress  they  watched  with  a 
degree  of  interest  only  felt  by  those  whose  retirement  admits 
few  sources  of  amusement.  There  was  a  secret  cause  of 
pride,  too,  in  seeing  the  old  residence  of  the  family  — 
marred  as  had  been  its  proportions  by  frequent  and  tasteless 
additions  —  resume  something  of  its  once  grandeur.  Mary, 
whose  earliest  lessons  in  infancy  had  been  the  tales  of  her 
powerful  ancestors,  who  lorded  over  an  almost  princely 
tract,  entered  heart  and  soul  into  a  course  which  favored 
so  many  of  fancy's  pleasantest  fictions.  Her  greatest 
delight,  however,  was  in  the  restoration  of  one  part  of  the 
building,  which  all  former  innovators  had  apparentlj 
despaired  of,  and  left  as  a  species  of  storehouse  for  every 
kind  of  lumber.  This  was  a  great  square  tower,  with  an 
adjoining  chapel,  the  floor  of  which  was  formed  by  the 
tombstones  of  her  earliest  ancestors.  One  compartment  of 
a  stained-glass  window  showed  "the  helmet  and  torch,"  the 


1 


MISS  LEICESTER'S  DREAM.  345 

arms  of  the  O'Regans,  from  which  the  family,  by  a  corrup- 
tion, took  the  name  of  Corrigan;  and  various  other  me- 
mentos abounded  to  prove  the  high  station  they  had  once 
supported. 

Strongly  imbued  with  a  knowledge  of  the  tales  and  cus- 
toms of  the  period,  Mary  restored  the  chapel  to  all  the 
emblazoned  splendor  of  the  sixteenth  century.  The  rich 
carvings  that  modern  research  has  discovered  and  carried 
away  from  the  chateaux  of  the  Low  Countries  were  adapted 
to  the  place,  and  speedily  the  interior  put  on  an  air  of  highly 
preserved  and  cherished  antiquity. 

The  tower  adjoining  was  also  converted  into  a  great 
chamber  of  audience, —  a  "Ritter-Saal,"  —  hung  round  with 
weapons  of  the  chase  and  war,  while  great  buffets  displayed 
a  wealth  of  antique  plate  and  china,  of  gem-wrought  cups 
and  massive  flagons,  that  lent  a  lustre  to  its  otherwise  too 
stern  appearance.  Lighted  by  a  range  of  stained  windows 
far  from  the  ground,  the  tempered  sunlight  cast  a  mellow 
glance  on  every  object;  and  here,  in  the  silence  of  the  noon, 
when  the  workmen  had  gone  to  dinner,  Mary  used  to  sit 
alone,  some  strange  spell  fascinating  her  to  a  spot  where 
echoes  had  once  awoke  to  the  tramp  of  her  own  kinsmen's 
footsteps. 

"Tell  me,  Mr.  Linton,"  said  she,  as  he  entered  suddenly, 
and  found  her  seated  in  her  favorite  place,  "what  part  of 
the  chapel  adjoins  the  wall  we  see  yonder?" 

"That,"  said  Linton,  musing  for  a  second,  —  "that,  if  I 
mistake  not,  must  be  what  you  styled  the  crypt;  the  —  " 

"Exactly!"  cried  she,  with  animation.  "The  crypt  is 
somewhat  lower  than  this  chamber,  two  steps  or  so?" 

"About  as  much." 

"How  strange,  how  very  strange!"  she  said,  half  to 
herself. 

"What  is  strange!  "  said  Linton,  smiling  at  the  intense 
preoccupation  of  her  features. 

"You  will  laugh  outright,"  said  she,  "if  I  tell  you.  It 
was  a  dream  I  had  last  night  about  this  chamber." 

"Pray  let  me  hear  it,"  said  Linton,  seating  himself,  and 
affecting  a  deep  interest.  "I  own  to  a  most  implicit  confi- 
dence in  dreams." 

"Which  is  more  than  I  do,"  said  she,  laughing.     "This 


246  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

has,  however,  so  much  of  truth  about  it,  as  the  locality  is 
concerned,  and  thus  far  it  is  curious.  Are  you  certain  that 
you  never  told  me  before  that  the  crypt  lay  outside  of  that 
wall?" 

"Perfectly;  since  I  only  learned  as  much  myself  about 
an  hour  ago." 

"How  singular!" 

"Come,  do  not  torture  my  curiosity  further.  Let  us 
have  your  dream." 

"It  was  very  short.  I  dreamed  that  I  was  sitting  here 
musing  and  thinking  over  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  some  of 
those  who  once  dwelt  within  these  walls,  and  comparing 
their  destiny  with  that  of  their  descendants,  only  admitted, 
as  it  were,  on  sufferance,  when  suddenly  a  door  opened 
slowly  there,  —  there,  in  the  very  midst  of  that  wall,  —  and 
I  could  see  down  into  the  crypt,  and  the  chapel  beyond  it. 
On  the  altar  there  were  candles  lighted,  and  I  thought  the 
figure  of  a  man  crossed  and  recrossed  below  the  steps,  as  if 
settling  and  arranging  the  books  and  cushions ;  and,  at  last, 
he  turned  round,  and  I  perceived  that  he  carried  in  his 
hands  a  small  and  strongly  clasped  box,  and,  as  he  came 
towards  me,  he  seemed  to  hold  this  out  for  me  to  take ;  but, 
as  I  did  not  move  or  stir,  he  laid  it  down  within  the  door- 
way, and,  as  he  did  so,  the  wall  gradually  closed  up  again, 
and  no  vestige  of  the  door  could  be  seen.  Nay,  so  per- 
fectly unshaken  did  all  appear  that  I  remember  remarking 
a  cobweb  that  stretched  from  the  frame  of  a  picture,  and 
hung  over  the  spot  where  the  door  seemed  to  be;  and 
there,"  cried  she,  starting  up,  — "there,  Mr.  Linton,  as  I 
live,  there  is  the  cobweb!" 

"Which,  without  doubt,  you  observed  yesterday,"  said 
Linton,  "and  in  your  sleep  the  vision  of  our  neglect  was 
renewed." 

"No,  no;  I  never  saw  it  before.  I  am  confident  that  I 
never  noticed  it  yesterday.  I  am  sorry  I  revealed  my  dream 
to  you,"  said  she,  perceiving  that,  in  spite  of  all  his  tact, 
incredulity  had  lent  a  look  of  pitying  compassion  to  his 
features. 

"On  the  contrary,    I   beg  of  you   to   believe  in   all  my 
interest  for  your  recital;  nay,   I'll  prove  it  too." 
"How  so?"  said  she,  eagerly. 


MISS  LEICESTER'S  DREAM.  847 

"Simply  enough.  I  '11  give  orders  at  once  to  have  a 
door  made  here,  and  then  we  shall  see  if  the  view  you 
describe  of  the  crypt  and  the  chapel  can  be  seen  from  this 
point." 

"Why  don't  you  add,  and  of  the  figure  with  the  casket, 
too?  "  said  she,  smiling;  "for  I  see  you  regard  them  all  as 
alike  veracious." 

"In  any  case,"  cried  Linton,  "if  he  lay  down  the  treasure 
—  and  treasure  it  must  be  —  here  in  the  doorway,  I  '11  take 
care  that  the  walls  do  not  swallow  it  up  again;  we  shall  be 
able  to  find  it  in  the  morning." 

"And  will  you  really  have  this  done?  " 

"I  '11  give  the  orders  this  very  day." 

"I  must  not  be  so  silly,"  said  she,  after  a  pause;  "the 
whole  is  too  absurd.  No,  Mr.  Linton,  do  not,  I  beg  of 
you,  do  not  take  any  notice  of  my  folly." 

"At  all  events,"  said  Linton,  "your  dream  is  a  most 
happy  inspiration;  a  door  here  will  be  a  great  improve- 
ment, and  if  the  vista  takes  in  the  chapel,  so  much  the 
better.  Remember,  too,"  added  he,  in  a  lower  and  more 
feeling  voice,  — "  remember  what  I  have  told  you  so  often, 
that  whatever  we  do  here  has,  so  to  say,  no  other  reward 
than  the  pleasure  it  gives  me  the  doing.  Our  great  patron 
has  about  as  much  gratefulness  in  his  composition  as  taste. 
He  will  neither  feel  thankful  for  our  exertions,  nor  sensible 
of  their  success,  and  is  just  as  likely  to  desecrate  yon 
Ritter-Saal,  by  making  it  his  smoking-room." 

"If  I  thought  so,"  said  she,  proudly,  and  then  stopped 
suddenly.  "But  how  can  it  concern  me?  I  have  only  to 
wonder  how  you  can  accept  of  an  intimacy  so  distasteful." 

This,  in  its  very  abruptness,  was  a  home-thrust;  and  so 
much  did  Linton  feel  it  that  he  reddened,  at  first  with 
shame,  and  then  with  anger  at  his  want  of  composure. 

"There  are  many  circumstances  in  life,  Miss  Leicester," 
said  he,  gravely,  "which  demand  heavy  sacrifices  of  per- 
sonal feeling;  and  happy  if  sometimes  the  recompense  come 
in  seeing  that  our  self-devotion  has  worked  well  for  others! 
I  may  one  day  explain  myself  more  fully  on  this  head." 

Before  Mary  could  answer,  a  messenger  came  to  say  that 
her  grandfather  was  waiting  to  return  with  her  to  the  cot- 


348  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

tage,  and  she  bid  Linton  good-bye  with  a  degree  of  interest 
for  him  she  had  never  felt  before.  Linton  stood  in  a 
window  and  watched  her  as  she  went,  nor  did  his  eye  quit 
the  graceful  form  till  it  disappeared  in  the  covering  of 
the  trees.  "Yes,"  said  he  to  himself,  '*I  have  struck  the 
right  chord  at  last!  She  neither  is  to  be  dazzled  by  the 
splendor  nor  excited  by  the  ambitions  of  the  great  world. 
The  key  to  the  mystery  of  her  nature  lies  in  the  very  fact 
of  her  position  in  life,  —  the  indignant  struggle  against  a 
condition  she  feels  beneath  her;  she  can  sympathize  with 
this.  She  is  just  the  very  girl,  too,  to  awaken  Laura's  jeal- 
ousy, so  brilliantly  handsome,  so  much  of  elegance  in  mien 
and  deportment.  Ay !  the  game  will  win ;  I  may  stake  all 
upon  it.  Who  is  that?"  said  he,  starting  suddenly,  as  a 
door  banged  behind  him,  and  he  saw  Tom  Keane,  who  had 
been  a  silent  listener  to  his  soliloquy.  Linton  well  knew 
that,  shrewd  as  the  man  was,  the  words  could  have  conveyed 
little  or  nothing  to  his  intelligence,  and  carelessly  asked 
what  had  the  post  brought. 

''A  heap  of  letters,  yer  honer,"  said  he,  laying  the 
heavily  loaded  bag  on  the  table.  "I  never  see  so  many 
come  to  the  town  afore." 

As  Linton  unlocked  the  bag  and  emptied  its  contenti 
before  him,  his  face  suddenly  grew  dark  and  angry,  for 
none  of  the  letters,  as  he  turned  them  over,  were  for  himself ; 
they  were  all  addressed  Roland  Cashel,  Esq.,  and  marked 
"private."  At  last  he  saw  one  with  his  own  name,  and, 
motioning  to  Keane  to  leave  him  undisturbed,  he  sat  down 
to  read  it.  It  came  from  his  correspondent,  Mr.  Phillis, 
and  was  of  the  briefest: 

Sir,  —  All  has  gone  wrong.  R.  C.  sailed  last  night  on  a  yachting 
excursion  with  Lord  and  Lady  K.,  some  say  for  Wales,  others  for 
the  Isle  of  Wight.  The  truth  I  cannot  ascertain.  The  persons 
invited  to  Tubbermore  are  all  preparing  to  set  out,  but  eagerly  ask- 
ing where  C.  is  to  be  found.  There  has  been  something  like  a 
breach  at  K.'s,  and  I  fancy  it  is  about  Lady  KilgofT's  going  in  the 
yacht,  which,  although  seeming  accident,  must  have  been  planned 
previously.  If  you  had  been  here  the  matter  might  have  taken 
another  turn,  as  C.  appears  very  tired  of  K.'s  agency,  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  obtaining  money  from  him. 


MISS  LEICESTER'S  DREAM.  S49 

I  have  received  a  few  lines  from  C,  dated  from  "  the  harbor,"  to 
order  a  "  fourgon  "  to  be  got  ready;  but  I  shall  pretend  not  to  have 
received  the  note,  and  leave  this,  if  yoi  desire  it,  for  Tubbermore  on 
hearing  from  yoit 

Yours,  in  duty, 

E,.  Phillis. 

Linton  crushed  the  note  passionately  in  his  fingers,  and 
with  a  cheek  almost  purple,  and  swollen  knotted  veins 
about  the  forehead  and  temples,  he  hastily  walked  to  and 
fro  in  the  apartment.  '*So,  madam,"  said  he,  "is  this, 
then,  the  reason  of  your  compliance  ?  Was  this  the  source 
of  that  yielding  to  my  wishes  that  induced  you  to  come 
here?  And  to  dare  this  towards  me/"  A  fiendish  laugh 
burst  from  him  as  he  said,  "Silly  fool;  so  long  as  you 
played  fair,  the  advantage  was  all  on  your  own  side.  Try 
to  cheat,  and  you  '11  see  who  's  the  victor!  And  that  cub, 
too,"  added  he,  with  a  hoarse  passion,  "who  ventures  a 
rivalry  with  me!  Hate  has  an  inspiration  that  never 
deceives;  from  the  first  moment  I  saw  him  I  felt  that  for 
him." 

"You  say  you  wanted  the  masons,  sir,"  said  Keane, 
opening  the  door,  where  he  had  been  endeavoring,  but 
ineffectually,  to  catch  the  clew  of  Linton's  words. 

"Yes,  let  them  come  here,"  said  he,  with  his  ordinary 
composure.  "You  are  to  break  a  door  there,"  said  he,  as 
the  men  entered,  "and  I  wish  to  have  it  done  with  all  speed. 
You'll  work  all  night,  and  be  doubly  paid."  As  he  spoke, 
he  sauntered  out  to  muse  over  the  late  tidings  he  had 
received,  and  plan  within  himself  the  coming  campaign. 

Thus  loitering  and  reflecting,  time  slipped  by  and  evening 
drew  near. 

"We  must  have  a  light  here,"  said  one  of  the  masons. 
"  This  room  is  never  very  bright,  and  now  it  is  almost  dark 
as  night.  But  what  have  we  here?"  And  at  the  moment 
his  hammer  sent  forth  a  ringing  sound  as  if  it  had  struck 
upon  metal. 

"What  can  it  be?"  said  the  other;  "it  seems  like  a  plate 
of  iron." 

Linton  now  drew  nigh,  as  he  overheard  these  words,  and 
stationing  himself  at  a  small  window,  beheld  the  two  men 


350  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

as  they  labored  to  detach  what  seemed  a  heavy  stone  in  the 
wall. 

"It's  not  a  plate  of  iron,  but  a  box,"  cried  one. 

*'Hush,"  said  the  other,  cautioning  silence;  "if  it's 
money  there 's  in  it,  let  us  consider  a  bit  where  we  '11 
hide  it." 

"It  sounds  empty,  anyhow,"  said  the  first,  as  the  metal 
rang  clearly  out  under  the  hammer.  Meanwhile  Linton 
stood  overwhelmed  at  the  strange  connection  between  the 
dream  and  the  discovery.  "It  is  a  box,  and  here  's  the  key 
fastened  to  it  by  a  chain,"  cried  the  former  speaker.  He 
had  scarcely  succeeded  in  removing  the  box  from  the  wall, 
when  Linton  was  standing,  unseen  and  noiseless,  behind 
him. 

"We'll  share  it  fair,  whatever  it  is,"  said  the  second. 

"Of  course,"  said  the  other.  "Let  us  see  what  there  is  to 
share."  And  so  he  threw  back  the  lid,  and  beheld,  to  his 
great  dismay,  nothing  but  a  roll  of  parchment  fastened 
by  a  strap  of  what  had  once  been  red  leather,  but  which 
crumbled  away  as  he  touched  it. 

"  'Tis  Latin,"  said  the  first,  who  seemed  the  more  intel- 
ligent of  the  two,  after  a  vain  effort  to  decipher  the  heavily 
engrossed  line  at  the  top. 

"You  are  right,"  said  Linton;  and  the  two  men  started 
with  terror  on  seeing  him  so  near.  "It  is  Latin,  boys;  it 
was  the  custom  of  the  monks  to  bury  their  prayers  in  that 
way  once,  and  to  beg  whoever  might  discover  the  document 
to  say  so  many  masses  for  the  writer's  soul;  and  Protestant 
though  I  be,  I  do  not  think  badly  of  the  practice.  Let  us 
find  out  the  name."  And  thus  saying,  he  took  up  the  roll 
and  perused  it  steadily.  For  a  long  time  the  evening 
darkness,  the  difficulty  of  the  letters,  and  the  style  of  the 
record,  impeded  him ;  but  as  he  read  on,  the  color  came  and 
went  in  his  cheek,  his  hand  trembled  with  agitation,  and 
had  there  been  light  enough  to  have  noted  him  well,  even 
the  workmen  must  have  perceived  the  excitement  under 
which  he  labored. 

"Yes,"  said  he,  at  last,  "it  is  exactly  as  I  said;  it  was 
written  by  a  monk.  This  was  an  old  convent  once,  and 
Father   Angelo   asks   our   prayers  for   his    eternal   repose, 


MISS  LEICESTER'S  DREAM. 


351 


which  assuredly  he  shall  have,  heretic  that  I  am!  Here, 
boys,  here's  a  pound-note  for  you;  Father  Rush  will  tell 
you  how  to  use  it  for  the  best.  Get  a  light  and  go  on  with 
your  work,  and  if  you  don't  like  to  spend  the  money  in 
masses,  say  nothing  about  the  box,  and  I  '11  not  betray  your 
secret." 


A  dvy  laugh  aid  a  significant  leer  of  the  eye  showed  that 
ne  had  accurately  read  'i,ia  hearers'  inmost  thoughts,  and 
jLinton  si.t  down  ag  if  to  await  their  return ;  but  no  sooner 
fiad  they  left  the  spot  than  he  hastened  with  all  speed  to 

e  inn,  to  con  over  his  newly  discovered  treasure,  and 
satisfy  himself  as  to  its  importance  and  authenticity. 

Drawing  dose  the  curtains  of  his  windows,  and  locking 
tne  door  of  his  room,  like  one  who  would  be  alone,  he  again 


352  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

opened  the  casket,  and  took  out  the  scroll.  With  bent- 
down  head  and  steady  gaze,  he  perused  it  from  end  to  end^ 
and  then  sat  with  riveted  eyes  fixed  upon  the  signature 
and  massive  seal  which  were  appended  to  the  foot  of  the 
document.  "That  this  should  have  been  revealed  in  a 
dream,"  said  he,  at  length,  "is  almost  enough  to  shake 
one's  faith  in  the  whole!  Am  I  myself  awake,  and  is  it 
real  what  I  see  before  me?"  He  walked  the  room  with 
uncertain  steps,  then  opened  wide  the  window,  then  closed 
it  again,  once  more  took  up  the  paper  and  studied  it.  In 
fact,  it  was  clear  to  see  that  a  sceptical  nature,  the  very 
habit  of  doubt,  had  indisposed  him  to  believe  in  even  that 
which  his  very  senses  corroborated. 

"What  would   I   give   for   some   lawyer's   craft  at  this 
moment! "  said  he,  as  the  drops  of  perspiration  stood  upon 
his  forehead,  and  his  clenched  hands  were  clasped  together 
in   strong  emotion;  "what  would  I  give  for  the  keennes' 
that  could  pierce  through  every  line  of  this,  and  see  it  frf 
of  flaw  —  ay,  that  is  the  point!      And  then.  Master  Roland' 
—  here  his   voice  grew  full  and   round, — "and   then   e 
should   see  who  is  the  master  and  who  the  depende-''  if 
with  a  word  —  with  one  word  —  I  could  unmake  yo  *nd 
from  the  insolence  of  your  sudden  wealth  bring  yo^^^^i 
once  more  to  your  fitting  station!     Never  did  Fortr®  ^^^d 
by   me   like   this!     Let  me,   however,    not  lose  ^®   ^^^ 
from  over-strength;  caution  is  needed  here.     Bf^^'^  Cvpj. 
gan  shall  know  himself  the  rightful  owner  of   \^^^®^"^^, 
he  must  be  satisfied  to  see  Tom  Linton  his  r^n-m-law.    v 
glorious  hit  that  deals  vengeance  on  everv^^"^*        ^^  "^ 
lady,  we  shall  acquit  our  debt  to  you  also! '    ^^'^^  *^^  ^^^ 
of  overwhelming  passion  he  again  turn*^^  *^  *^^  docuii-e 
which  lay  open  on  the  table.     "Wh«t  if  it  were  o:i  y  a 
copy?     But  this  is  scarce  possible;    th^   signature^   looR 
real,  and  the  seal  cannot  be  counterfeit.     Whom  could  i 
trust  to  inspect  it?     With  whom  dare  I  place  it  /or  a  day, 
or  even  an  hour?     No!  I  '11  never  suffer  it  out  of  my  own 
keeping!     I  know  not  if  the  power  to  strike  is  not  the  very 
acme  of  revenue !  '* 

As  he  walked  Ihe  room  in  deepest  agitation  he  chanced  for 
an  instant  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  Tubbermorc,  which,  in  tne 


MISS  LEICESTER'S   DREAM.  85B 

bright  light  of  a  newly-risen  moon,  could  te  seen  above 
the  trees. 

"So  then  it  may  chance  that  I  have  not  expended  my 
labor  in  vain,  and  that  this  same  house  may  be  yet  my  own. 
Mine!  "  cried  he,  in  ecstasy,  — "mine  those  swelling  woods, 
that  princely  park ;  the  high  position  which  wealth  bestows, 
and  the  power  that  I  could  speedily  accomplish  in  political 
life.  There  may  be  many  who  have  more  ambition  to  strive 
for:  I  '11  swear  there  are  few  men  living  have  more  grudges 
to  pay  off." 

And  with  this  speech,  uttered  in  an  accent  of  withering 
hate  and  scorn,  he  again  returned  to  gaze  at  the  open 
parchment. 

The  document,  surmounted  by  the  royal  arms,  and 
engrossed  in  a  stiff  old-fashioned  hand,  was  a  free  pardon 
accorded  by  his  Majesty  George  the  Second  to  Miles 
Hardress  Corrigan,  and  a  full  and  unqualified  restoration  to 
his  once  forfeited  estates. 

Certain  legal  formalities  were  also  enjoined  to  be  taken, 
and  certain  oaths  to  be  made,  as  the  recognition  of  this  act 
of  his  sovereign's  grace. 

Such  was  the  important  document  on  which  now  he 
gazed,  reading  and  re-reading  it,  till  every  word  became 
riveted  on  his  memory. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE    GUESTS    BEGIN   TO    ARRIVE. 

"  Hark,  they  come !  they  come !  " 

An  unusual  bustle  and  commotion  in  the  little  inn  awoke 
Linton  early  on  the  following  morning.  These  were  caused 
by  the  arrival  of  a  host  of  cooks,  coachmen,  grooms,  foot- 
men, and  scullions,  with  a  due  proportion  of  the  other  sex, 
all  engaged  in  London,  and  despatched — "as  per  order" 

—  to  form  the  household  of  Tubbermore. 

As  Linton  proceeded  with  his  dressing,  he  overheard  the 
multifarious  complaints  and  lamentations  of  this  town-reared 
population  over  the  dirt  and  destitution  of  their  newly 
adopted  land,  —  criticisms  which,  as  they  scrupled  not  to 
detail  aloud,  evoked  rejoinders  not  a  whit  more  complimen- 
tary to  the  Saxon ;  the  hostess  of  the  Goat  —  being  an  en- 
ergetic disciple  of  that  great  authority  who  has  pronounced 
both  the  land  and  its  people   as  the  paragons  of  creation 

—  leading  the  van  of  the  attack,  and  certainly  making 
up  for  any  deficiencies  in  her  cause  by  the  force  of  her 
eloquence. 

"  Arrah!  who  wanted  ye  here  at  all?"  said  she,  address- 
ing the  circle,  stunned  into  silence  by  her  volubility.  "  Who 
axed  ye?  Was  it  to  plaze  us,  or  to  fill  yer  pockets  with 
the  goold  of  ould  Ireland,  ye  kem  ?     Oh,  murther !   murther  ! 

—  is  n*t  it  the  sin  and  the  shame  to  think  how  the  cray tures 
is  eatin'  us  up !  Faix !  maybe  ye  '11  be  sorry  enough  for 
it  yet.  There 's  more  than  one  amongst  you  would  like  to 
be  safe  home  again,  afore  long !  A  set  of  laz}'^  thieves,  no 
less.  The  heavens  be  my  bed,  but  I  never  thought  I  'd  see 
the  day  they  'd  be  bringing  a  '  naygur '  to  Ireland  to  teach 
us  music !  " 


THE   GUESTS  BEGIN  TO   ARRIVE. 


355 


This  singular  apostrophe,  which  seemed  to  fill  the  meas- 
ure of  her  woe,  so  far  attracted  Linton's  curiosity  to  com- 
prehend it,  that  he  opened  the  window  and  looked  out,  and 
at  once  discovered,  by  the  direction  of  the  eyes  of  the  circle, 
the  object  of  the  sarcasm.  He  was  a  well-built  man,  of  a 
dark  swarthy  complexion  and  immense  beard  and  mustache, 
who  sat  on  a  stone  bench  before  the  door,  occupied  in 
arranging  the  strings  of  his  guitar.  The  air  of  unmoved 
tranquillity  showed  that  he  did  not  suspect  himself  to  be 


the  butt  of  any  sarcasm,  and  he  pursued  his  task  with  a 
composure  that  vouched  for  his  ignorance  of  the  language. 

*'Who  is  our  friend?"  said  Linton,  addressing  the  coach- 
man, and  pointing  to  the  musician. 

'^  We  calls  him  Robinson  Crusoe,  sir,"  replied  the  other; 
"we  took  him  up  on  the  road  from  Limerick.  We  never 
seed  him  afore." 

"  So,  then,  he  doesn't  belong  to  our  force.  I  really  had 
begun  to  fear  that  Mr.  Gunter  had  pushed  enlistment  too 
far." 

Meanwhile  the  stranger,  attracted  by  the  voice,  looked  up, 
and  seeing  Linton,  immediately  removed  his  cap,  with  an 
air  of  quiet  courtesy  that  was  not  lost  upon  the  shrewd 
observer  to  whom  it  was  tendered. 


356  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

''You  are  a  sailor,  I  perceive?  "  said  Tom,  as  he  walked 
out  in  front  of  the  inn.    The  other  shook  his  head  dubiously. 

"  I  was  asking,"  said  Linton,  changing  his  language  to 
French,  "if  you  had  been  a  sailor?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  he,  again  removing  his  cap,  "  a  sailor 
from  Trieste." 

"And  how  came  you  here?" 

"Our  vessel  was  lost  off  the  Blasquets,  sir,  on  Wednes- 
day night.  We  were  bound  for  Bristol  with  fruit  from 
Sicily,  and  caught  in  a  gale ;  we  struck,  and  all  were  lost, 
except  myself  and  another,  now  in  hospital  in  the  large 
city  yonder." 

"Were  you  a  petty  officer,  or  a  common  seaman?"  said 
Linton,  who  had  been  scanning  with  keen  eye  the  well-knit 
frame  and  graceful  ease  of  the  speaker. 

"A  common  sailor,  sir,"  rejoined  he,  modestly. 

"And  how  comes  it  that  you  are  a  musician,  friend?" 
asked  Linton,  shrewdly. 

"Every  one  is  in  my  country,  sir — at  least,  with  such 
humble  skill  as  I  possess." 

"  What  good  fortune  it  was  to  have  saved  your  guitar 
from  shipwreck !  "  rejoined  Linton,  with  an  incredulous 
twinkle  of  his  gray  eyes. 

"  I  did  not  do  so,  sir,"  said  the  sailor,  who  either  did  not, 
or  would  not,  notice  the  sarcasm.  "  My  good  friends  here  " 
' — pointing  to  the  servants  —  "bought  this  for  me  in  the 
last  town  we  came  through." 

Linton  again  fixed  his  eyes  upon  him  ;  it  was  evident  that 
he  was  hesitating  between  belief  and  an  habitual  sense  of 
distrust,  that  extended  to  everything  and  everybody.  At 
last  he  said,  — 

' '  And  what  led  you  hither,  my  friend  ?  " 

"  Chance,"  said  the  man,  shrugging  his  shoulders.  "  T 
could  have  no  preferences  for  one  road  over  another  —  all 
were  strange  —  all  unknown  to  me.  I  hoped  with  the  aid  of 
my  guitar,  to  get  some  clothes  once  more  together,  and  then 
to  find  some  vessel  bound  for  the  Adriatic." 

"What  canyon  do  besides  that?"  said  Linton,  "for  it 
strikes  me  a  fellow  with  thews  and  sinews  like  yours  was 
scarcely  intended  to  thrum  catgut." 


THE  GUESTS  BEGIN  TO  ARRIVE.  357 

"  I  can  do  most  thiugs  where  a  steady  eye,  and  a  strong 
hand,  and  a  quick  foot  are  needed.  I've  been  a  hunter  in 
the  forests  of  Dalmatia  —  herded  the  half- wild  cattle  on  the 
Campagna  at  Rome  —  sailed  a  felucca  in  the  worst  Levanters 
of  the  gulf  —  and  to  swim  in  a  high  sea,  or  to  ride  an 
unbroken  horse,  I  '11  yield  to  but  one  man  living." 

"And  who  may  he  be?"  said  Linton,  aroused  at  the 
southern  enthusiasm  so  suddenly  excited. 

"A  countryman  of  mine,"  said  the  sailor,  sententiously ; 
*'  his  name  is  not  known  to  you." 

"  How  sad  such  gifts  as  these  should  have  so  little  recom- 
pense in  our  days,"  said  Linton,  with  an  affected  sincerity. 
"  There  was  a  time,  in  your  own  country,  too,  when  a  fellow 
like  yourself  w^ould  not  have  had  long  to  seek  for  a  patron." 

The  Italian's  cheek  grew  deeper  in  its  flush,  and  his  dark 
eyes  seemed  almost  to  kindle  beneath  the  shaggy  brows; 
then  correcting,  as  it  seemed,  the  passionate  impulse,  he 
said :  "Ay,  true  enough,  sir;  there  were  many  who  had  the 
gold  to  squander,  who  had  not  the  hand  to  strike,  and,  as 
you  say,  fellows  like  me  were  high  in  the  market.'* 

"  And  no  great  hardship  in  it^  either,"  said  Linton. 
"  There  is  a  justice  surer  and  quicker  than  the  law,  which  I, 
for  one,  think  right  well  of." 

Either  not  following  the  import  of  the  speech,  or  not 
caring  to  concur  in  it,  the  Italian  did  not  reply. 

"  I  have  a  notion  that  we  may  find  out  some  employment 
for  you  here,"  said  Linton.  "  What  name  are  we  to  call 
you?" 

"  Giovanni,"  said  the  sailor,  after  a  moment's  hesitation, 
which  did  not  escape  the  shrewdness  of  his  questioner. 

"Giovanni  be  it,"  said  Linton,  easily;  "as  good  as 
another." 

"Just  so,"  rejoined  the  Italian,  with  a  hardihood  that 
seemed  to  sit  easily  upon  him. 

"  I  think,  friend,"  said  Linton,  drawing  nearer  to  him  — 
and,  although  the  foreign  language  in  which  he  spoke  effec- 
tually prevented  the  others  from  understanding  what  passed, 
instantly  his  voice  dropped  into  a  lower  and  more  confiden- 
tial tone  —  "I  think,  friend,  we  shall  soon  understand  each 
Other  well.     You  are  in  want  of  a  protector;  I  may  yet 


358  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

stand  in  need  of  an  attached  and  zealous  fellow.  I  read 
people  quickly,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  we  are  well  met. 
Stay  here,  then;  we  shall  soon  have  a  large  company 
arriving,  and  I'll  try  and  find  out  some  exercise  for  your 
abilities." 

The  Italian's  dark  eyes  flashed  and  twinkled  as  though 
his  subtle  nature  had  already  enlarged  upon  the  shadowy 
suggestions  of  the  other,  and  he  made  a  significant  gesture 
of  assent. 

"  Remember,  now,  in  whose  service  you  are,"  said  Linton, 
taking  out  his  purse,  and  seeking  among  its  contents  for  the 
precise  piece  of  coin  he  wanted  —  "remember,  that  I  am 
not  the  master  here,  but  one  who  has  to  the  full  as  much 
power,  and  that  I  can  prove  a  strong  friend,  and,  some  say, 
a  very  dangerous  enemy.  Here  is  the  earnest  of  our  bar- 
gain," said  he,  handing  him  a  guinea  in  gold;  "  from  this 
hour  I  count  upon  you." 

The  Italian  nodded  twice,  and  pocketing  the  money 
with  a  cool  audacity  that  told  that  such  contracts  were 
easily  comprehended  by  him,  touched  his  cap,  and  sauntered 
away,  as  though  to  follow  out  some  path  of  his  own  choos- 
ing. Linton  looked  after  him  for  a  moment,  but  the  next 
his  attention  was  taken  off  by  seeing  that  Mr.  Corrigan  and 
his  granddaughter  were  advancing  hastily  towards  him. 

"  So  you  have  really  accepted  my  suggestion,"  said  Mary, 
with  a  flush  of  pleasure  on  her  cheek;  "the  door  has 
been  opened,  and  the  vista  is  exactly  as  my  dream  revealed 
it." 

"In  all  save  the  chief  ingredient,"  replied  Linton,  laugh- 
ing; "  we  want  the  monk  and  the  casket." 

"Hush!"  said  she,  cautiously;  "grandpapa  is  a  firm 
believer  in  all  dreams  and  visions,  and  would  not  hear  them 
spoken  of  irreverently." 

"Assuredly,  I  never  was  less  in  the  mind  to  do  so," 
replied  Linton,  with  a  degree  of  earnestness  that  made 
Mary  smile,  little  suspecting  at  the  time  to  what  his  speech 
owed  its  fervor. 

"We've  come  to  take  a  last  look  at  the  'Hall,'  Mr. 
Linton,"  said  the  old  man.  "  Tom  Keane  tells  me  that 
your   gay  company  will  soon   arrive;    indeed,  rumor  says 


THE  GUESTS  BEGIN  TO   ARRIVE.  359 

that  some  have  already  reached  Limerick,  and  will  be  here 
to-morrow." 

"This  is  more  than  I  knew  of,"  said  Linton;  "  but  here 
comes  the  redoubted  Tom  himself,  and  with  a  full  letter- 
bag,  too."  Hastily  unlocking  the  leather  sack,  Tom  Linton 
emptied  its  contents  upon  a  grassy  bench,  where  the  party 
seated  themselves  to  learn  the  news.  "  There  are  no  secrets 
here,"  said  Linton,  tossing  over  the  letters,  with  nearly  all 
of  whose  handwriting  he  was  familiar;  "help  me,  Miss 
Leicester,  I  beg,  to  get  through  my  task.  Pray  break  some 
of  the  seals,  and  tell  us  who  our  dear  friends  are  whose 
presence  is  so  soon  to  charm  and  enliven  us.  And  will  you, 
too,  sir,  bear  your  part?"  Thus  invited,  old  Mr.  Corrigan 
put  on  his  spectacles,  and  slowly  prepared  to  assist  in  the 
labor. 

"That's  the  Dean's  hand.  Miss  Leicester  —  the  Dean  of 
Drumcondera.  I  hope  he  's  not  coming ;  I  'm  sure  he  was 
never  invited." 

"  He  regrets  he  cannot  be  with  you  this  week,  but  will 
certainly  come  next,  and  take  the  liberty  of  presenting  his 
distinguished  friend,  the  Hofrath  von  Dunnersleben,  profes- 
sor of  Oriental  Literature  at  Hochenkanperhausen." 

"This  is  painting  the  lily  with  a  vengeance;  'color  on 
color '  is  bad  heraldry,  but  what  shall  we  say  of  the  taste 
that  brings  '  bore  upon  bore '  ?  " 

"'Mrs.  Leicester  White  has  prevailed  upon  Mr.  Howie 
to  defer  his  departure  from  Ireland  — ' " 

"  This  is  too  bad,"  interrupted  Linton.  "  What  fortune 
have  you,  sir?  I  hope  better  tidings  than  Miss  Leicester." 

"  This  is  a  strange  kind  of  scrawl  enough,"  said  the  old 
man ;  "it  runs  thus  :  — '  Dear  Tom,  we  are  starting  for 
your  wild  regions  this  evening  —  two  drags  and  a  mail 
phaeton.  I  have  sent  Gipsy  and  the  white  fetlocked  colt 
by  Hericks,  and  will  bring  Tom  Edwards  with  me.  The 
mare  looks  well,  but  fleshy;  you  must  look  to  it  that  we 
have  n't  lieavy  ground  — '  " 

"  Oh,  I  know  who  that's  from,"  said  Linton,  hastily  tak- 
ing  the  letter  from  Corrigan's  hand;  "it's  Lord  Charles 
Frobisher,  —  a  silly  fellow,  that  never  thinks  of  anything 
but  horse-racing  and  training." 


8G0  r.OLANI)  CASHEL. 

"  He  would  seem  to  speculate  on  something  of  the  kind 
here,"  said  Corrigan ;  "  at  least,  it  looks  very  like  pre- 
meditation,  this  sending  off  grooms  and  racers." 

"  He  does  so  everywhere  he  goes,"  said  Linton,  affecting 
to  laugh;  "a  surgeon  would  no  more  travel  without  his 
lancets,  than  Charley  without  some  chance  of  a  '  match ; ' 
but  what 's  this  ? 

"  Dear  Mr.  Cashel,  —  I  and  my  little  girl  are  already  en  route 
for  your  hospitable  castle,  too  happ}'  to  assist  in  the  celebration  of 
your  house-warming  —  " 

"Oh,  that's  Meek,"  said  Linton.  "And  now  for  this 
rugged  little  hand  here. 

"  Lady  Janet  and  Sir  Andrew  MacFarline  —  " 

"  Strange  style,  —  the  lady  first,"  interposed  Miss  Leices- 
ter. 

*'  She  is  always  so,"  said  Linton,  continuing  the  perusal  — 

— "  will  reach  Tubbermore  by  Tuesday,  and  have  only  to  request 
that  their  apartments  may  not  have  a  north  aspect,  as  Lady  J.  has 
still  a  heavy  cold  hanging  over  her.  Sir  A.'s  man,  Flint,  will  arrange 
the  rooms  himself  and,  with  Mr.  Cashel's  permission,  give  directions 
about  double  doors  —  if  there  be  none. 

"  Sir  A.  has  taken  the  liberty  of  mentioning  to  Gordon  that  the 
sherry  is  far  too  hot  and  acrid,  and  hopes  Mr.  Cashel  will  pardon 
his  having  ordered  some  dozens  of  '  Amontillado  '  for  trial.  Lady 
J.  asks,  as  a  favor,  that  plants  and  flowers  may  be  banished  from 
the  house  during  her  brief  stay,  Dr.  Grimes  positively  forbidding  all 
herbaceous  odors ;  and  if  the  cook  could  make  the  '  cuisine '  partic- 
ularly simple,  it  would  also  oblige  her,  as  Dr.  G.  says  she  ought  not 
to  be  exposed  to  the  irritation  of  tempting  viands,  even  to  see  them 
at  table. 

"  Lady  J.  hopes  that  the  society  will  be  cheerful  without  dissipa- 
tion, and  gay  without  debauch;  above  all,  she  stipulates  for  early 
hours,  and  trusts  that  by  eleven,  at  latest,  the  house  will  have  retired 
to  rest.  Lady  Janet  has  no  objection  to  meeting  any  one  Mr.  Cashel 
may  honor  with  his  invitation,  but  leaves  it  to  Mr.  C.'s  discretion 
not  to  abuse  this  liberality.  Were  she  to  particularize,  she  should 
merely  suggest  that  the  Kennyfecks,  except  perhaps  the  elder  girl, 
are  odious  —  Mrs.  White  a  perfect  liorror  —  the  Meeks  something 
too  atrocious —  and  that  rather  than  meet  the  Kilgoffs  and  their  set, 


THE   GUESTS  BEGIN  TO   ARRIVE.  361 

Lady  J.  would  almost  prefer  to  relinquish  all  her  much-anticipated 
pleasure.  Mr.  Linton  can  be,  and  very  often  is,  gentlemanlike  and 
amusing,  but  '  Lintonism,'  as  occasionally  practised,  is  intolerable. 

"  Lady  Janet  has  ventured  on  these  remarks,  far  less  for  her  own 
convenience  than  in  the  discharge  of  what  she  feels  to  be  a  duty  to 
a  very  young  and  inexperienced  man,  whose  unsuspecting  nature  will 
inevitably  expose  him  to  the  very  insidious  attacks  of  selfishness, 
cunnino-,  and  to  that  species  of  dictation  that  sooner  or  later  ends  in 
debasing  and  degrading  him  who  permits  himself  to  be  its  subject. 

"Janet  MacFarline." 

"What  a  chaste  specimen  of  disinterestedness  her  Lady- 
ship's own  letter,"  said  Mary.  "Is  she  a  near  relative,  or 
a  very  old  friend  of  Mr.  Cashel's  family?" 

"Neither;  a  mere  acquaintance,  undistinguished  by  any- 
thing like  even  a  passing  preference." 

"She  is  a  Lady  Janet,"  interposed  old  Corrigan,  "and 
it  is  surprising  what  charms  of  influence  pertain  to  those 
segments  of  great  families,  as  they  descend  a  scale  in 
society,  and  live  among  the  untitled  of  the  world ;  besides 
that,  whatever  they  want  in  power,  they  '  take  out '  in 
pretension,  and  it  does  quite  as  well." 

"She  is  'mauvaise  langue,'"  said  Linton;  "and  there 
are  few  qualities  obtain  such  sway  in  society.  But  who 
comes  here  in  such  haste  ?  It  is  Tom  Keane.  Well,  Tom, 
what  has  happened  —  is  the  Hall  on  fire?  " 

"No,  sir;  but  the  company's  comin'  rowlin'  in  as  fast 
as  'pays'  down  the  big  avenue,  and  into  the  coort;  there 
was  three  coaches  all  together,  and  I  see  two  more  near  the 
gate." 

"  Then  we  shall  leave  you  to  your  cares  of  host,"  said 
Corrigan,  rising;  "but  don't  forget  that  when  affairs  of 
state  permit,  we  shall  be  delighted  to  see  you  at  the 
cottage." 

"  Oh,  by  all  means,  Mr.  Linton.  I  have  acquired  the 
most  intense  curiosity  to  hear  about  j'our  fine  company  and 
their  doings  —  pray  compassionate  my  inquisitiveness." 

"But  will  you  not  join  us  sometimes?"  said  Linton; 
"can  I  not  persuade  you  to  make  part  of  our  little  com- 
pany? for  I  trust  we  shall  be  able  to  have  some  society 
worth  showing  you." 


362  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

The  old  man  shook  his  head  and  made  a  gesture  of 
refusal. 

''Nay,"  said  he,  "I  am  so  unfitted  for  such  scenes,  and 
so  grown  out  of  the  world's  ways,  that  I  am  going  to 
play  hermit,  and  be  churlish  enough  to  lock  the  wicket 
that  leads  down  to  the  cottage  during  the  stay  of  your 
visitors  —  not  against  you^  however.  You  '11  always  find 
the  key  at  the  foot  of  the  holly-tree." 

"Thanks  —  I'll  not  forget  it,"  said  Linton ;  and  he  took 
a  cordial  leave  of  his  friends,  and  returned  to  the  house, 
wondering  as  he  went  who  were  the  punctual  guests  whose 
coming  had  anticipated  his  expectations. 

He  was  not  long  in  doubt  upon  this  point,  as  he  per- 
ceived Mr.  Phillis,  who,  standing  on  the  terrace  before  the 
chief  entrance,  was  giving  directions  to  the  people  about,  in 
a  tone  of  no  small  authority. 

"  What,  Phillis !  has  your  master  arrived?  "  cried  Linton, 
in  astonishment. 

''  Oh,  Mr.  Linton!  "  cried  the  other,  obsequiously,  as  hat 
in  hand  he  made  his  approaches,  "there  has  been  such  a 
business  since  I  wrote  —  " 

"Is  he  here?     Is  he  come?  "  asked  Linton,  impatiently. 

"No,  sir,  not  yet;  nor  can  he  arrive  before  to-morrow 
evening.  You  received  my  letter,  I  suppose,  about  the 
result  of  the  yachting-party  and  Lady  Kilgoff?" 

"  No!  I  know  not  one  word  about  it,"  said  Linton,  with 
a  firmness  that  showed  how  well  he  could  repress  any  trace 
of  anxiety  or  excitement.  "Come  this  way,  out  of  the 
hearing  of  these  people,  and  tell  me  everything  from  the 
beginning." 

Phillis  obeyed,  and  walked  along  beside  him,  eagerly 
narrating  the  whole  story  of  Cashel's  departure,  to  the 
moment  when  the  j^acht  foundered,  and  the  party  were 
shipwrecked  off  the  coast  of  Wexford. 

"Well,  go  on,"  said  Linton,  as  the  other  came  to  a  full 
stop.     "What  then?" 

"A  few  lines  came  from  Mr.  Cashel,  sir,  with  orders  for 
certain  things  to  be  sent  down  to  a  little  village  on  the  coast, 
and  directions  for  me  to  proceed  at  once  to  Tubbermore  and 
await  his  arrival." 


THE   GUESTS  BEGIN  TO  ARRIVE.  363 

Linton  did  not  speak  for  some  minutes,  and  seemed  totally 
occupied  with  his  own  reflections,  when  by  hazard  he  caught 
the  words  ' '  her  Ladyship  doing  exactly  as  she  pleases  —  " 

"  With  whom?"  asked  he,  sternly. 

"  With  Mr.  Cashel,  sir;  for  it  seems  that  notwithstanding 
all  the  terror  and  danger  of  the  late  mishap,  Mr.  Sickleton 
has  been  despatched  to  Cowes  to  purchase  the  '  Queen  of 
the  Harem,'  Lord  Welliugham's  new  yacht,  and  this  at 
Lady  Kilgoff's  special  instigation.  Mr.  Sickleton  slept  one 
night  at  our  house  in  town,  and  I  took  a  look  at  his  papers ; 
there  was  nothing  of  any  consequence,  however,  except  a 
memorandum  about  '  Charts  for  the  Mediterranean,'  which 
looks  suspicious." 

"  I  thought,  Phillis,  I  had  warned  you  about  the  Kilgoff 
intimacy.  I  thought  I  had  impressed  you  with  the  neces- 
sity of  keeping  them  from  him." 

"  So  you  had,  sir;  and,  to  the  very  utmost  of  my  power, 
1  did  so ;  but  here  was  a  mere  accident  that  foiled  all  my 
care  and  watchfulness." 

"As  accidents  ever  do,"  muttered  Linton,  with  sup- 
pressed passion.  "The  game  of  life,  like  every  other 
game,  is  less  to  skill  than  chance!  Well,  when  can  they 
be  here  ?  " 

"To-morrow  afternoon,  sir,  if  not  delayed  by  something 
unforeseen ;  though  this  is  not  at  all  unlikely,  seeing  the 
difficulty  of  getting  posters.  There  are  from  thirty  to  forty 
horses  engaged  at  every  stage." 

"Whom  have  we  here?"  cried  Linton,  as  a  large  travel- 
ling-carriage suddenly  swept  round  the  drive,  and  entered 
the  court. 

"Sir  Andrew  MacFarline's  baggage,  sir;  I  passed  them 
at  the  last  change.  One  would  say,  from  the  preparations, 
that  they  speculate  on  a  somewhat  lengthy  visit.  What 
rooms  are  we  to  assign  them,  sir?  " 

"  The  four  that  look  north  over  the  billiard-room  and 
the  hall ;  they  are  the  coldest  and  most  cheerless  in  the 
house.  Your  master  will  occupy  the  apartments  now  mine ; 
see,  here  is  the  plan  of  the  house ;  Lord  and  Lady  Kilgoff 
have  4,  5,  and  6.  These  that  are  not  marked  you  may  dis- 
tribute how  you  will.  My  quarters  are  those  two,  beyond 
the  library." 


364  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

Linton  was  here  interrupted  by  the  advance  of  a  tall, 
stiff-looking  old  fellow,  who,  carrying  his  hand  to  his  hat 
in  military  guise,  stood  straight  before  him,  saying,  in  a 
very  broad  accent,    "  The  gen'ral's  mon,  sir,  an't  please  ye." 

"Well,  friend,  and  what  then?"  replied  Linton,  half 
testily. 

"I've  my  leddy's  orders,  sir,  to  tak'  up  a  good  position, 
and  a  warm  ane,  in  the  hoos  yonder,  and  if  it 's  no  askin' 
too  much,  I  'd  like  to  speer  the  premises  first." 

"  Mr.  Phillis,  look  after  this,  if  you  please,"  said  Linton, 
turning  away ;   "  and  remember  my  directions." 

"Come  with  me,  friend,"  said  Phillis;  "your  mistress, 
I  suppose,  does  not  like  cold  apartments  ?  " 

"  Be  ma  saul,  if  she  finds  them  so,  she  '11  mak'  the  rest  of 
the  hoos  over  warm  for  the  others,"  said  he,  with  a  sardonic 
grin,  that  left  small  doubt  of  his  sincere  conviction. 

"And  your  master?"  said  Phillis,  in  that  interrogatory 
tone  which  invites  a  confidence. 

"The  gen'ral  's  too  auld  a  soldier  no  to  respec  deescepline," 
said  he,  dryly. 

"Oh,  that's  it,  Sanders." 

"  Ma  name  's  Bob  Flint,  and  no  Saunders,  —  gunner  and 
driver  i'  the  Royal  Artillery,"  said  the  other,  drawing  him- 
self up  proudly;  "an'  if  we  are  to  be  mair  acquaint,  it's 
just  as  well  ye  'd  mind  that  same." 

As  Bob  Flint  possessed  that  indescribable  something 
which  would  seem,  by  an  instinct,  to  save  its  owner  from 
impertinences,  Mr.  Phillis  did  not  venture  upon  any  re- 
newed familiarity,  but  led  the  way  into  the  house  in  silence. 

"That's  a  bra'  cookin'  place  ye've  got  yonder,"  said 
Bob,  as  he  stopped  for  a  second  at  the  door  of  the  great 
kitchen,  where  already  the  cooks  were  busied  in  the  various 
preparations;  "but  I'm  no  so  certain  my  leddy  wad  like 
to  see  a  bra'  giggot  scooped  out  in  tha'  fashion  just  to  mak' 
room  for  a  wheen  black  potatoes  inside  o'  it ;  "  —  the  opera- 
tion alluded  to  so  sarcastically  being  the  stuffing  of  a  shoul- 
der of  mutton  with  truffles,  in  Provencal  mode. 

"  I  suppose  her  Ladyship  will  be  satisfied  with  criticising 
what  comes  to  table,"  said  Phillis,  "  without  descending  to 
the  kitchen  to  make  objections." 


THE  GUESTS  BEGIN  TO  ARRIVE.  865 

**  If  she  does,  then,"  said  Flint,  "  she  's  mair  ceevil  to  ye 
here  than  she  was  in  the  last  hoos  we  spent  a  fortnight, 
whar  she  discharged  twa  maids  for  no  making  the  beds  as 
she'd  taw'd  them,  forbye  getting  the  coachman  turned  off 
because  the  carriage  horses  held  their  tails  ower  high  for 
her  fancy." 

"  We'll  scarce  put  up  with  that  here,"  said  Phillis,  with 
offended  dignity. 

'*  I  dinna  ken,"  said  Bob,  thoughtfully;  "she  made  her 
ain  nephew  carry  a  pound  o'  dips  from  the  chandler's,  just, 
as  she  said,  to  scratch  his  pride  a  bit.  I  'd  ha'  ye  mind  a 
wee  hoo  ye  please  her  fancy.  You  're  a  bonnie  mon,  but 
she  '11  think  leetle  aboot  sending  ye  packing." 

Mr.  Phillis  did  not  deign  a  reply  to  this  speech,  but 
led  the  way  to  the  suite  destined  for  her  Ladyship's  ac- 
commodation. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

HOW    THE    VISITORS    FARED. 

They  come  —  they  come  !  —  Harold. 

Linton  passed  the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  letter- 
writing.  Combinations  were  thickening  around  him,  and 
it  demanded  all  the  watchful  activity  he  could  command 
to  prevent  himself  being  overtaken  by  events.  To  a  con- 
fidential lawyer  he  submitted  a  case  respecting  Corrigan's 
title,  but  so  hypothetically  and  with  such  reserve  that  it 
betrayed  no  knowledge  of  his  secret  —  for  he  trusted  no 
man.  Mary  Leicester's  manuscript  was  his  next  care,  and 
this  he  intrusted  to  a  former  acquaintance  connected  with  the 
French  press,  entreating  his  influence  to  obtain  it  the  honor 
of  publication,  and,  instead  of  remuneration,  asking  for 
some  flattering  acknowledgment  of  its  merits.  His  last 
occupation  was  to  write  his  address  to  the  constituency 
of  his  borough,  where  high-sounding  phrases  and  generous 
professions  took  the  place  of  any  awkward  avowals  of 
political  opinion.  This  finished,  and  wearied  by  the  long- 
sustained  exertion,  he  threw  himself  on  his  bed.  His  head, 
however,  was  far  too  deeply  engaged  to  permit  of  sleep. 
The  plot  was  thickening  rapidly  —  events,  whose  course  he 
hoped  to  shape  at  his  leisure,  were  hurrying  on,  and  al- 
though few  men  could  summon  to  their  aid  more  of  cold 
calculation  in  a  moment  of  difficulty,  his  wonted  calm  was 
now  disturbed  by  one  circumstance  —  this  being,  as  he 
called  it  to  himself  —  Laura's  treachery.  No  men  bear 
breaches  of  faith  so  ill  as  they  who  practise  them  with  the 
world.  To  most  persons  the  j^acht  voyage  would  have 
seemed,  too,  a  chance  occurrence,  where  an  accidental  in- 
timacy was  formed,  to  wane  and  die  out  with  the  circum- 
stance that  created  it.     Not  so  did  he  regard  it.     He  read 


HOW  THE  VISITORS  FARED.  367 

a  prearranged  plan  in  every  step  she  had  taken  —  he  saw 
in  her  game  the  woman's  vanity  to  wield  an  influence  over 
one  for  whom  so  many  contended  —  he  knew,  too,  how  in 
the  great  world  an  '•'■  eclat"  c&n  always  cover  an  "indis- 
cretion "  —  and  that,  in  the  society  of  that  metropolis  to 
which  she  aspired,  the  reputation  of  chaperoning  the  rich 
Roland  Cashel  would  be  of  incalculable  service. 

If  Linton  had  often  foiled  deeper  snares,  here  a  deep  per- 
sonal wrong  disturbed  his  powers  of  judgment,  and  irritated 
him  beyond  all  calm  prudential  thoughts.  Revenge  upon 
her,  the  only  one  he  had  ever  cared  for,  was  now  his  upper- 
most thought,  and  left  little  place  for  any  other. 

Wearied  and  worn  out,  he  fell  asleep  at  last,  but  only  to 
be  suddenly  awakened  by  the  rattling  of  wheels  and  the 
quick  tramp  of  horses  on  the  gravel  beneath  his  window. 
The  one  absorbing  idea  pervading  his  mind,  he  started  up, 
muttering,  "  She  is  here."  As  he  opened  his  window  and 
looked  down,  he  at  once  perceived  his  mistake  —  Mrs. 
Kennyfeck's  well-known  voice  was  heard,  giving  directions 
about  her  luggage  —  and  Linton  closed  the  casement,  half 
relieved  and  half  disappointed. 

For  a  brief  space  the  house  seemed  astir.  Mrs.  Kenny- 
feck  made  her  way  along  the  corridor  in  a  mingled  commen- 
tary on  the  handsome  decorations  of  the  mansion  and  Mr. 
Kennyfeck's  stupidity,  who  had  put  Archbold's  "  Criminal 
Practice"  into  her  bag  instead  of  Debrett's  ''Peerage," 
while  Linton  could  overhear  a  little  quizzing  conversation 
between  the  daughters,  wherein  the  elder  reproached  her 
sister  for  not  having  the  politeness  to  bid  them  "  welcome." 
The  slight  commotion  gradually  subsided,  all  became  still, 
but  only  for  a  brief  spaxje.  Again  the  same  sound  of  crash- 
ing wheels  was  heard,  and  once  more  Linton  flung  open  his 
window  and  peered  out  into  the  darkness.  It  was  now  rain- 
ing tremendously,  and  the  wind  howling  in  long  and  dreary 
cadences. 

"  What  a  climate!  "  exclaimed  a  voice  Linton  knew  to  be 
Downie  Meek's.     His  plaint  ran  thus :  — 

"  I  often  said  they  should  pension  off  the  Irish  Secretary 
after  three  years,  as  they  do  the  Chief  Justice  of  Gambia." 

"It  will   make   the   ground  very  heavy  for   running,   I 


368  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

fear,"  said  the  deep  full  tone  of  a  speaker  who  assisted  a 
lady  to  alight. 

''  How  you  are  always  thinking  of  the  turf,  Lord 
Charles !  "  said  she,  as  he  rather  carried  than  aided  her 
to  the  shelter  of  the  porch. 

Linton  did  not  wait  for  the  reply,  but  shut  the  window, 
and  again  lay  down. 

In  that  half- waking  state,  where  sleep  and  fatigue  contest 
the  ground  with  watchfulness,  Linton  continued  to  hear  the 
sound  of  several  arrivals,  and  the  indistinct  impressions 
became  commingled  till  all  were  lost  in  heavy  slumber.  So 
is  it.  Childhood  itself,  in  all  its  guileless  freedom,  enjoys 
no  sounder,  deeper  sleep  than  he  whose  head  is  full  of  wily 
schemes  and  subtle  plots,  when  once  exhausted  nature  gains 
the  victory. 

So  profound  was  that  dreamless  state  in  which  he  lay, 
that  he  was  never  once  aware  that  the  door  by  which  his 
chamber  communicated  with  the  adjoining  one  had  been 
opened,  while  a  select  committee  were  debating  about  the 
disposition  of  the  furniture,  in  total  ignorance  that  he  made 
part  of  it. 

''"Why  couldn't  Sir  Andrew  take  that  small  room,  and 
leave  this  for  me?  I  like  an  alcove  vastly,"  said  Lady 
Janet,  as,  candle  in  hand,  she  took  a  survey  of  the  chamber. 

"  Yes,  my  leddy,"  responded  Flint,  who,  loaded  with 
cloaks,  mantles,  and  shawls,  looked  like  an  ambulating 
wardrobe. 

"  You  can  make  him  a  kind  of  camp-bed  there;  he'll  do 
very  well." 

''  Yes,  my  leddy." 

"  And  don't  suffer  that  impertinent  Mr.  Phillis  to  poke  his 
head  in  here  and  interfere  with  our  arrangements.  These 
appear  to  me  to  be  the  best  rooms  here,  and  I'll  take  them." 

"  Yes,  my  leddy." 

"  Where  's  Sir  Andrew?  " 

"  He's  takin'  a  wee  drap  warm,  my  leddy,  in  the  butler's 
room;  he  was  ower  wat  in  the  'dickey'  behind." 

"  It  rained  smartly,  but  I'm  sure  the  country  wanted  it," 
dryly  observed  Lady  Janet.  —  "  Well,  sir,  you  here  again?  " 
This  sharp  interrogatory  was  addressed  to  Mr.  Phillis,  who, 


HOW  THE   VISITORS  FARED.  369 

after  a  vain  search  for  her  Ladyship  over  half  the  house,  at 
length  discovered  her. 

"  You  are  not  aware,  my  Lady,"  said  he,  in  a  tone  of 
obsequious  deference,  that  nearly  cost  him  an  apoplexy, 
"that  these  rooms  are  reserved  for  my  master." 

*'Well,  sir;  and  am  I  to  understand  that  a  guest's  ac- 
commodation is  a  matter  of  less  importance  than  a  valet's 
caprice  ?  for  as  Mr.  Cashel  never  was  here  himself,  and  con- 
sequently never  could  have  made  a  choice,  I  believe  I  am 
not  wrong  in  the  source  of  the  selection." 

''It  was  Mr.  Linton,  my  Lady,  who  made  the  arrange- 
ment." 

''And  who  is  Mr.  Linton,  sir,  who  ventures  to  give 
orders  here?  —  I  ask  you,  who  is  Mr.  Linton?"  As  there 
was  something  excessively  puzzling  to  Mr.  Phillis  in  this 
brief  interrogatory,  and  as  Lady  Janet  perceived  as  much, 
she  repeated  the  phrase  in  a  still  louder  and  more  authorita- 
tive tone,  till,  in  the  fulness  of  the  accents,  they  fell  upon 
the  ears  of  him  who,  if  not  best  able  to  give  the  answer, 
was,  at  least,  most  interested  in  its  nature. 

He  started,  and  sat  up ;  and  although,  from  the  position 
of  his  bed  in  a  deep  alcove  he  was  himself  screened  from 
observation,  the  others  were  palpable  enough  to  his  eyes. 

"  Yes,"  cried  Lady  Janet,  for  the  third  time,  "  I  ask, 
who  is  Mr.  Linton  ?  " 

"  Upon  my  life,  your  Ladyship  has  almost  made  me  doubt 
if  there  be  such  a  person,"  said  Tom,  protruding  his  head 
through  the  curtains. 

"  I  vow  he  's  in  the  bed  yonder !  "  said  Lady  Janet,  start- 
ing back.  "  Flint,  I  think  you  are  really  too  bad;  this  is 
all  your  doing,  or  yours,  sir,"  turning  to  Phillis  with  a  face 
of  anger. 

"  Yes,  my  Leddy,  it's  a'  his  meddlin*." 

"Eh,  Leddy  Janet,  what's  this?  "  said  Sir  Andrew,  sud- 
denly joining  the  party,  after  a  very  dangerous  excursion 
along  dark  corridors  and  back  stairs. 

"  We've  strayed  into  Mr.  Linton's  room,  I  find,"  said  she, 

gathering  up  various  small  articles  she  had  on  entering  thrown 

on  the   table.     "  I   must  only  reserve   my  apologies  for  a 

more  fitting  time  and  place,  and  wish  him  'good-night.'" 

VOL.  I.  —  24 


370  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"I've  even  dune  something  o'  the  same  wi'  Mrs.  Kanny- 
fack,"  said  Sir  Andrew.  "  She  was  in  bed,  though,  and  so 
I  made  my  retreat  undiscovered." 

"I  regret,  Lady  Janet,"  said  Linton,  politely,  "that  my 
present  toilet  does  not  permit  me  to  show  you  to  your  apart- 
ment, but  if  you  will  allow  Mr.  Phillis  —  " 

"  Dinna  get  up,  man,"  broke  in  Sir  Andrew,  as  he  half 
pushed  the  invading  party  out  of  the  door;  "we'll  find  it 
vara  weel,  I've  na  doubt."  And  in  a  confused  hubbub  of 
excuses  and  grumblings  they  withdrew,  leaving  Linton  once 
more  to  court  slumber,  if  he  could. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  sir,"  said  Phillis,  popping  in  his  head  the 
minute  after,  "  but  Mr.  Downie  Meek  has  taken  the  rooms 
you  meant  for  Lady  Janet ;  they  've  pillaged  all  the  chambers 
at  either  side  for  easy-chairs  and  cushions  to  —  " 

"  With  all  my  heart;  let  them  settle  the  question  between 
them,  or  leave  it  to  arbitration.     Shut  the  door,  pray." 

"  Mrs.  White,  too,  and  a  large  party  are  in  the  library, 
and  I  don't  know  where  to  show  them  into." 

"Anywhere  but  here,  Phillis.  Good-night;  there's  a 
good  man,  good-night." 

"They're  all  asking  for  you,  sir;  just  tell  me  what  to 
say." 

"  Merely  that  I  have  passed  a  shocking  night,  and  request 
I  may  not  be  disturbed  till  late  in  the  afternoon." 

Phillis  retired  with  a  groan,  and  soon  a  confused  hum  of 
many  voices  could  be  heard  along  the  corridor,  in  every 
accent  of  irritation  and  remonstrance.  Self-reproaches  on 
the  mistaken  and  abused  confidence  which  had  led  the  visi- 
tors to  journey  so  many  miles  to  "such  a  place;"  mutual 
condolences  over  misfortune ;  abuse  of  the  whole  establish- 
ment, and  "  that  insufferable  puppy  the  valet"  in  particular, 
went  round,  till  at  last,  like  a  storm  that  had  spent  its  fury, 
a  lull  succeeded ;  one  by  one  the  grumblers  slipped  away, 
and  just  as  day  was  breaking,  the  house  was  buried  in  the 
soundest  sleep. 

About  an  hour  later,  when  the  fresh-risen  sun  was  glisten- 
ing and  glittering  among  the  leaves,  lightly  tipped  with  the 
hoar-frost  of  an  autumnal  morning,  a  handsomely-appointed 
travelling-carriage,  with  four  posters,  drove  rapidly  up  to 


HOW  THE   VISITORS  FARED.  371 

the  door,  and  an  active-looking  figure,  springing  from  the 
box,  applied  himself  to  the  bell  with  a  vigorous  hand,  and 
the  next  minute,  flinging  open  the  carriage-door,  said, 
"Welcome,  —  at  last,  1  am  able  to  say,  —  welcome  to  Tub- 
bermore." 

A  graceful  person,  wrapped  in  a  large  shawl,  emerged, 
and,  leaning  on  his  arm,  entered  the  house;  but  in  a 
moment  he  returned  to  assist  another  and  a  far  more  help- 
less traveller,  an  old  and  feeble  man,  who  suffered  himself 
to  be  carried,  rather  than  walked,  into  the  hall. 

"  This  is  Tubbermore,  my  Lord,"  said  the  lady,  bending 
down,  and  with  a  hand  slightly  touching  his  shoulder  seem- 
ing to  awake  his  attention. 

"Yes — thank  you  —  perfectly  well,"  said  he,  in  a  low 
soft  voice,  while  a  smile  of  courteous  but  vacant  meaning 
stole  over  his  sickly  features. 

"Not  over- fatigued,  my  Lord?"  said  Roland,  kindly. 

"  No,  sir  —  we  saw  the  '  Lightship'  quite  near  us." 

"  Still  thinking  of  that  dreadful  night,"  said  her  Lady- 
ship, as  slie  arranged  two  braids  of  her  fair  brown  hair 
more  becomingly  on  her  forehead ;  and  then  turning  to  a 
very  comely  personage,  who  performed  a  series  of  courtesies, 
like  minute  guns,  at  intervals,  added,  "  If  you  please,  then, 
we  '11  retire  to  our  apartment.  Your  housekeeper,  I  sup- 
pose, Mr.  Cashel?" 

"I  conclude  so,"  said  Roland;  "but  I  am  equally  a 
stranger  here  with  yourself." 

"Mrs.  Moss,  at  your  service,  sir,"  said  the  housekeeper, 
with  another  courtesy. 

"Mrs.  Moss,  then,"  said  Roland,  in  an  undertone,  "I 
have  only  to  remark  that  Lord  and  Lady  Kilgoff  must  want 
for  nothing  here." 

"I  understand,  sir,"  said  Mrs.  Moss;  and  whether  the 
words,  or  the  look  that  accompanied  them,  should  bear  the 
blame,  but  they  certainly  made  Cashel  look  half  angry,  half 
ashamed. 

"  Then  good-night  —  or  good-morrow,  I  believe  it  should 
be,"  said  Lady  Kilgoff.  "I'm  sure,  in  charity,  we  should 
not  keep  you  from  your  bed  a  minute  longer.  You  had  a 
severe  night  outside." 


372  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

"Good-night — good-night,  my  Lord,"  said  Cashel ;  and 
the  handsome  form  of  the  lady  moved  proudly  on,  while 
the  servant  assisted  the  poor  decrepid  husband  slowly 
after. 

Roland  looked  after  them  for  an  instant,  and  whether 
from  some  curiosity  to  see  the  possessions  which  called  him 
master,  or  that  he  felt  indisposed  to  sleep,  he  passed  out 
into  the  lawn  and  stood  some  minutes  gazing  at  the  strange 
and  somewhat  incongruous  pile  before  him. 

Perhaps  something  of  disappointment  mingled  with  his 
thoughts  —  perhaps  it  was  only  that  strange  revulsion  which 
succeeds  to  all  long-excited  expectation,  when  the  moment 
of  satisfy^ing  it  has  come,  and  speculation  is  at  an  end  for- 
ever—  but  he  was  turning  away,  in  half  sadness,  when  he 
caught  sight  of  a  hand  waving  to  him  a  salute  from  one  of 
the  windows.  He  had  just  time  to  answer  the  gesture,  when 
the  shutter  was  closed.  There  was  one  other  saw  the 
motion,  and  noted  well  the  chamber  from  whence  it  came. 
Linton,  awoke  by  the  arrival  of  the  carriage,  had  watched 
every  step  that  followed,  and  now  sat,  with  half -drawn 
curtains,  eagerly  marking  everything  that  might  minister  to 
his  jealous  anger. 

As  for  Cashel,  he  sauntered  on  into  the  wood,  his  mind 
wandering  on  themes  separated  by  nearly  half  the  world 
from  where  his  steps  were  straying. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Roland's  introduction  to  mr.  corrigan. 

And  while  the  scene  around  them  smiled, 
With  pleasant  talk  the  way  beguiled. 

Haile  ;  Rambles. 

As  Roland  Cashel  strolled  aloDg  alone,  he  could  not  divest 
himself  of  a  certain  feeling  of  disappointment,  that,  up  to 
the  present,  at  least,  all  his  wealth  had  so  little  contributed 
to  realize  those  illusions  he  had  so  often  fancied.  The  plots, 
the  wiles  and  cunning  schemes  by  which  he  had  been  sur- 
rounded, were  gradually  revealing  themselves  to  his  senses, 
and  he  was  rapidly  nearing  the  fatal  ''bourne"  which 
separates  credulity  from  distrust. 

If  we  have  passed  over  the  events  which  succeeded  the 
loss  of  the  yacht  with  some  appearance  of  scant  ceremony 
to  our  reader,  it  is  because,  though  in  themselves  not  totally 
devoid  of  interest,  they  formed  a  species  of  episode  which 
only  in  one  respect  bore  reference  to  the  current  of  our 
story.  It  is  not  necessary,  no  more  than  it  would  be  gratify- 
ing, to  us  to  inquire  with  what  precise  intentions  Lady 
Kilgoff  had  souglit  to  distinguish  Roland  by  marks  of  pre- 
ference. Enough,  if  we  say  that  he  was  neither  puppy 
enough  to  ascribe  the  feeling  to  anything  but  a  caprice,  nor 
was  he  sufBciently  hackneyed  in  the  world's  ways  to  suspect 
it  could  mean  more. 

That  he  was  flattered  by  the  notice,  and  fascinated  by  the 
charms  of  a  very  lovely  and  agreeable  woman,  whose  de- 
pendence upon  him  each  day  increasing  drew  closer  the  ties 
of  intimacy,  is  neither  strange  nor  uncommon,  no  more  than 
that  she,  shrewdly  remarking  the  bounds  of  respectful  def- 
erence by  which  he  ever  governed  his  acquaintance,  should 
use  greater  freedoms  and  less  restricted  familiarity  with  him, 


874  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

than  had  he  been  one  of  those  fashionable  young  men  about 
town  with  whom  the  repute  of  a  conquest  would  be  a 
triumph. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  say  on  what  terms  they  lived  in  each 
other's  society.  It  were  easier,  perhaps,  to  describe  it  by 
negatives,  and  say  that  assuredly  if  it  were  not  love,  the 
feeling  between  them  was  just  as  little  that  which  subsists 
between  brother  and  sister.  There  was  an  almost  unbounded 
confidence  —  an  unlimited  trust  —  much  asking  of  advice, 
and,  in  fact,  as  many  of  my  readers  will  say,  fully  as  much 
peril  as  need  be. 

From  her,  Cashel  first  learned  to  see  the  stratagems  and 
schemes  by  which  his  daily  life  was  beset.  Too  proud  to 
bestow  more  than  a  mere  passing  allusion  to  the  Kennyfecks, 
she  directed  the  whole  force  of  her  attack  upon  that  far 
more  dangerous  group  in  whose  society  Roland  had  lately 
lived.  For  a  time  she  abstained  altogether  from  even  a 
chance  reference  to  Linton ;  but  at  length,  as  their  intimacy 
ripened,  she  avowed  her  fear  of  him  in  all  its  fulness. 
When  men  will  build  up  the  edifice  of  distrust,  it  is  wonder- 
ful with  what  ingenuity  they  will  gather  all  the  scattered 
materials  of  doubt,  with  what  skill  arrange  and  combine 
them !  A  hundred  little  circumstances  of  a  suspicious 
nature  now  rushed  to  Roland's  memory,  and  his  own  con- 
science corroborated  the  history  she  drew  of  the  possible 
mode  by  which  Linton  acquired  an  influence  over  him. 

That  Linton  had  been  the  "  evil  genius  "  of  many,  Cashel 
had  often  heard  before,  but  always  from  the  lips  of  men ; 
and  it  is  astonishing,  whether  the  source  be  pride,  or  some- 
thing less  stubborn,  but  the  warning  which  we  reject  so 
cavalierly  from  our  fellows,  comes  with  a  wondrous  force 
of  conviction  from  the  gentler  sex. 

For  the  heavy  sums  he  had  lost  at  play,  for  all  the 
wasteful  outlay  of  his  money,  Cashel  cared  little;  but  for 
the  humiliating  sense  of  being  a  "dupe"  and  a  "tool," 
his  outraged  pride  suffered  deeply ;  and  when  Lady  Kilgoff 
drew  a  picture,  half  real,  half  imaginary,  of  the  game  which 
his  subtle  associate  was  playing,  Roland  could  scarce  rt 
strain  himself  from  openly  declaring  a  rupture,  and,  if  need 
be,  a  quarrel  with  him. 


POLAND'S  INTRODUCTION  TO  MR.  CORRIGAN.      ^75 

It  needed  all  her  persuasions  to  oppose  this  course ;  and, 
indeed,  if  she  had  not  made  use  of  one  unanswerable  argu- 
ment, could  she  have  succeeded.  This  was  the  inevitable 
injury  Linton  could  inflict  upon  her^  by  ascribing  the  breach 
to  her  influence.  It  would  be  easy  enough,  from  such  mate- 
rials as  late  events  suggested,  to  compose  a  history  that 
would  ruin  her.  Lord  Kilgoff  s  lamentable  imbecility,  the 
result  of  that  fatal  night  of  danger ;  Cashel's  assiduous  care 
of  her ;  her  own  most  natural  dependence  upon  him,  —  all 
these,  touched  on  with  a  woman's  tact  and  delicacy,  she 
urged,  and  at  last  obtained  his  pledge  that  he  would  leave 
to  time  and  opportunity  the  mode  of  terminating  an  intimacy 
he  had  begun  to  think  of  with  abhorrence. 

If  there  be  certain  minds  to  whom  the  very  air  they 
breathe  is  doubt,  there  are  others  to  wiiom  distrust  is  ab- 
solute misery.  Of  these  latter  Cashel  was  one.  Nature 
had  made  him  frank  and  free-spoken,  and  the  circumstances 
of  his  early  life  had  encouraged  the  habit.  To  nourish  a 
grudge  would  have  been  as  repulsive  to  his  sense  of  honor 
as  it  would  be  opposed  to  all  the  habits  of  his  buccaneering 
life.  To  settle  a  dispute  with  the  sword  was  invariably  the 
appeal  among  his  old  comrades ;  and  such  arbitraments  are 
those  which  certainly  leave  the  fewest  traces  of  lingering 
malice  behind  them.  To  cherish  and  store  up  a  secret  wrong, 
and  wait  in  patience  for  the  day  of  reckoning,  had  some- 
thing of  the  Indian  about  it  that,  in  Roland's  eyes,  aug- 
mented its  atrocity. 

Oppressed  with  thoughts  like  these,  and  associating  every 
vexation  he  suffered  as  in  some  way  connected  with  that 
wealth  whose  possession  he  fancied  was  to  satisfy  every 
wish  and  every  ambition,  he  sauntered  on,  little  disposed 
to  derive  pleasure  from  the  presence  of  those  external 
objects  which  fortune  had  made  his  own. 

"When  I  was  poor,"  thought  he,  "I  had  warm  and 
attached  friends,  ready  to  exult  in  my  successes,  and 
sympathize  with  me  in  my  sorrows.  If  I  had  enemies,  they 
were  brave  fellows,  as  willing  to  d;'fend  their  cause  with 
the  sword  as  myself.  None  flattered  or  frowned  on  him 
who  was  richer  than  the  rest.  No  subtle  schemes  lay  in  wait 
for   him   whose   unsuspecting    frankness    exposed   him   to 


376  ROLAND  CA8HEL. 

deception;  we  were  hons  camarades^  at  least,"  said  he,  aloud, 
'*and  from  what  I  have  seen  of  the  great  world,  I  've  lived 
to  prize  the  distinction." 

From  this  revery  he  was  suddenly  recalled  by  observing, 
directly  in  front  of  him,  an  elderly  gentleman,  who,  in  a 
stooping  posture,  seemed  to  seek  for  something  among  the 
dry  leaves  and  branches  beside  a  low  wicket. 

"This  is  the  first  fruit  of  our  gay  neighborhood,"  said 
the  old  man,  testily,  as  he  poked  the  dead  leaves  with  his 
cane;  "we're  lucky  if  they  leave  us  without  more  serious 
inconvenience." 

"  Can  I  assist  you  in  your  search  ?  —  have  you  lost  some- 
thing?" said  Cashel,  approaching. 

"  There  is  a  key  —  the  key  of  the  wicket  —  hid  somewhere 
hereabouts,  young  man,"  said  the  other,  who,  scarcely  be- 
stowing a  look  upon  Roland,  continued  his  investigation 
as  busily  as  before. 

Cashel,  undaunted  by  the  somewhat  ungracious  reception, 
now  aided  him  in  his  search,  while  the  other  continued: 
"  I  've  known  this  path  for  nigh  forty  years,  and  never 
remember  this  wicket  to  have  been  locked  before.  But 
so  it  is.  My  old  friend  is  afraid  of  the  invasion  of  this 
noisy  neighborhood,  and  has  taken  to  lock  and  key  to  keep 
them  out.  The  key  he  promised  to  hide  at  the  foot  of  this 
tree." 

"And  here  it  is,"  said  Cashel,  as  he  unlocked  the  wicket 
and  flung  it  wide. 

"Many  thanks  for  your  help,  but  you  have  a  better  reward 
than  my  gratitude,  in  eyes  some  five-and-thirty  years 
younger,"  said  the  old  man,  with  the  same  half- testy  voice 
as  before.  "Perhaps  you'd  like  to  see  the  grounds  here, 
yourself;  come  along.  The  place  is  small,  but  far  better 
kept  than  the  great  demesne,  I  assure  you;  just  as  many 
an  humble  household  is  more  orderly  than  many  a  proud 
retinue." 

Roland  was  rather  pleased  by  the  quaint  oddity  of  his  new 
companion,  of  whom  he  thought,  but  could  not  remember 
where,  he  had  seen  the  features  before. 

"You  are  a  stranger  in  these  parts,  I  conclude?  "  said  the 
old  man. 


EOLAND'S  INTRODUCTION  TO  MR.  CORRIGAN.      377 

"Yes.  I  only  arrived  here  about  an  hour  ago,  and  have 
seen  nothing  save  the  path  from  the  Hall  to  this  spot." 

"There  's  little  more  worth  the  seeing  on  yonder  side  of 
the  paling,  sir.  A  great  bleak  expanse,  with  stunted  trees 
and  a  tasteless  mansion,  full  of,  I  take  it,  very  dubious 
company ;  but  perhaps  you  are  one  of  them  ?  " 

"I  confess  as  much,"  said  Roland,  laughing;  "but  as  I 
have  not  seen  them,  don't  be  afraid  I  '11  take  up  the  cudgels 
for  my  associates." 

"Labor  lost  if  you  did,"  said  the  other,  bluntly.  "I  only 
know  of  them  what  the  newspapers  tell  us ;  but  their  names 
are  enough." 

"Are  they  all  in  the  same  category,  then?  "  asked  Cashel, 
smiling. 

"  Pigeons  or  hawks ;  dupes  or  swindlers,  —  an  ugly 
alternative  to  choose  from." 

"You  are  candid,  certainly,  friend,"  said  Cashel,  half 
angrily;  "but  don't  you  fancy  there  is  rather  too  much  of 
frankness  in  saying  this  to  one  who  has  already  said  he  is 
of  the  party  ?  " 

"Just  as  he  likes  to  take  it,"  said  the  old  man,  bluntly. 
"The  wise  man  takes  warning  where  the  fool  takes  umbrage. 
There  's  a  fine  view  for  you  —  see!  there  's  a  glorious  bit 
of  landscape,"  cried  he,  enthusiastically,  as  they  came  to 
an  opening  of  the  wood  and  beheld  the  wide  expanse  of 
Lough  Derry,  with  its  dotted  islands  and  ruined  tower. 

Roland  stood  still,  silently  gazing  on  the  scene,  whose 
beauty  was  heightened  by  all  the  strong  effect  of  light  and 
shade. 

"I  see  you  have  an  eye  for  landscape,"  said  the  old  man, 
as  he  watched  the  expression  of  Cashel' s  features. 

"I've  been  a  lover  of  scenery  in  lands  where  the  pursuit 
was  well  rewarded,"  said  Roland,  thoughtfully. 

"  That  you  may ;  but  never  in  a  country  where  the  con- 
templation called  for  more  thought  than  in  this  before  you. 
See,  yonder,  where  the  lazy  smoke  rises  heavily  from  the 
mountain  side,  high  up  there  amid  the  fern  and  the  tall 
heath,  that  is  a  human  dwelling,  —  there  lives  some  cottier 
a  life  of  poverty  as  uncheered  and  unpitied  as  though  he 
made  uo  part  of  the  great  family  of  man.     For  miles  and 


378  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

miles  of  that  dreary  mountain  some  small  speck  may  be 
traced  where  men  live  and  grow  old  and  die  out,  unthought 
of  and  uncared  for  by  all  beside.  This  misery  would  seem 
at  its  full,  if  now  and  then  seasons  of  sickness  did  not  show 
how  fever  and  ague  can  augment  the  sad  calamities  of 
daily  life.  There  are  men  —  ay,  and  old  men  too  —  who 
never  have  seen  bread  for  years,  I  say,  save  when  some 
gamekeeper  has  broken  it  to  feed  the  greyhounds  in  a 
coursing  party." 

''And  whose  the  fault  of  all  this?"  said  Cashel,  eagerly. 

"It  is  easy  to  see,  sir,"  said  the  other,  "that  you  are  no 
landed  proprietor,  for  not  only  you  had  not  asked  the  ques- 
tion, but  you  had  not  shown  so  much  emotion  when  putting 
it.  So  it  is,"  muttered  he  to  himself.  "It  is  so  ever. 
They  have  most  sympathy  with  the  poor  who  have  least 
the  power  to  help  them." 

"But  I  ask  again,  whose  the  fault  of  such  a  system?" 
cried  Cashel. 

"Ask  your  host  yonder,  and  you'll  soon  have  an  answer 
to  your  question.  You  '11  hear  enough  of  landlords'  calam- 
ities, —  wrecking  tenantry,  people  in  barbarism,  irreclaim- 
ably  bad,  sunk  in  crime,  black  in  ingratitude.  Ask  the 
peasant,  and  he  '11  tell  you  of  clearances,  — whole  families 
turned  out  to  starve  and  die  in  the  highways;  the  iron 
pressure  of  the  agent  in  the  dreary  season  of  famine  and 
fever.  Ask  the  priest,  and  he  will  say,  it  is  the  galling 
tyranny  of  the  *  rich  man's  church '  establishment  consum- 
ing the  substance,  but  restoring  nothing  to  the  people. 
Ask  the  rector,  and  he  '11  prove  it  is  popery,  — the  debasing 
slavery  of  the  very  blackest  of  all  superstitions ;  and  so  on. 
Each  throws  upon  another  the  load  which  he  refuses  to  bear 
his  share  of,  and  the  end  is,  we  have  a  reckless  gentry  and 
a  ruined  people ;  all  the  embittering  hatred  of  a  controversy, 
and  little  of  the  active  working  of  Christian  charity. 
Good-bye,  sir.  I  ask  pardon  for  inflicting  something  like 
a  sermon  upon  you.     Good-bye." 

"And  yet,"  said  Cashel,  "you  have  only  made  me  anxious 
to  hear  more  from  you.  May  I  ask  if  we  are  likely  to  meet 
again,  and  where?" 

"If  you  should  chance  to  be  sick  dui-ing  your  visit  here, 


ROLAND'S  INTRODUCTION  TO  MR.  CORRIGAN.      379 

and  send  for  the  doctor,  it 's  likely  they  '11  fetch  me,  as 
there  is  no  other  here." 

Cashel  started,  for  he  at  once  remembered  that  the 
speaker  was  Dr.  Tiernay,  the  friend  of  his  tenant,  Mr. 
Corrigan.  As  the  doctor  did  not  recognize  him,  however, 
Roland  resolved  to  keep  his  secret  as  long  as  he  could. 

"There,  sir,"  said  Cashel,  "I  see  some  friends  accosting 
you.     I  '11  say  good-bye." 

"Too  late  to  do  so  now,"  said  the  other,  half  sulkily. 
"Mr.  Corrigan  would  feel  it  a  slight  if  you  turned  back, 
when  his  table  was  spread  for  a  meal.  You  '11  have  to 
breakfast  here." 

Before  Roland  could  answer,  Mr.  Corrigan  came  forward 
from  beneath  the  porch,  and,  with  a  hand  to  each,  bid  them 
welcome. 

"I  was  telling  this  gentleman,"  said  Tiernay,  "that  he  is 
too  far  within  your  boundaries  for  retreat.  He  was  about 
to  turn  back." 

"Nay,  nay,"  said  the  old  man,  smiling;  "an  old  fellow 
like  you  or  me  may  do  a  churlish  thing,  but  a  young  man's 
nature  is  fresher  and  warmer.  I  tell  you,  Tiernay,  you  're 
quite  wrong;  this  gentleman  will  breakfast  here." 

"With  pleasure,"  said  Cashel,  cordially,  and  entered  the 
cottage. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

ROLAND    "hears    SOMETHING    TO    HIS    ADVANTAGE." 

Ay,  sir,  I  saw  him  'hind  the  arras. 

Sir  Gavin. 

Cashel  would  have  devoted  more  attention  to  the  tasteful 
arrangement  of  the  drawing-room  into  which  they  were 
ushered,  if  he  had  not  been  struck  with  the  handsome  and 
graceful  form  of  a  young  girl,  who  from  time  to  time  passed 
before  his  eyes  in  an  inner  chamber,  engaged  in  the  office 
of  preparing  breakfast,  and  whom  he  at  once  recognized  as 
the  granddaughter  of  whom  Linton  wrote. 

"We  were  talking  of  poor  Ireland,"  said  Tiernay,  "and 
all  her  sorrows." 

"I'll  engage  you  were,"  cried  Corrigan,  laughing,  "and 
I  '11  swear  you  did  not  make  a  mournful  topic  a  whit  less 
gloomy  by  your  way  of  treating  it. — And  that's  what  he 
calls  entertaining  a  stranger,  sir,  —  like  a  bankrupt  mer- 
chant amusing  a  party  by  a  sight  of  his  schedule.  Now,  I  '11 
wager  a  trifle  my  young  friend  would  rather  hear  where  a 
brace  of  cocks  was  to  be  found,  or  the  sight  of  a  neat  grass 
country  to  ride  over  after  the  fox-hounds,  —  and  I  can  do 
both  one  and  the  other.  But  here  comes  Mary, —  my  grand- 
daughter, Miss  Leicester,  sir." 

Mary  saluted  the  stranger  with  an  easy  gracefulness,  and 
she  shook  the  doctor's  hand  cordially. 

"You  are  a  little  late,  doctor,"  said  she,  as  she  led  the 
way  into  the  breakfast-room. 

"That  was  in  part  owing  to  that  rogue  Keane,  who  has 
taken  to  locking  the  gate  of  the  avenue,  by  way  of  seeming 
regular,  and  some  one  else  has  done  the  same  with  the 
wicket  here.     Now,  as  for  fifty  years  back  all  the  cows  of 


ROLAND  HEARS  SOMETHING.  381 

the  country  have  strayed  through  the  one,  and  all  the 
beggars  through  the  other,  I  don't  know  what 's  to  come 
of  it." 

"  I  suppose  the  great  house  is  filling  ? "  said  Mary,  to 
withdraw  him  from  a  grumbling  theme;  '*we  heard  the 
noise  of  several  arrivals  this  morning  early." 

"This  gentleman  can  inform  you  best  upon  all  that,"  said 
Tiernay;  "he  himself  is  one  of  the  company." 

"But  I  am  ignorant  of  everything,"  said  Cashel;  "I  only 
arrived  here  a  little  after  daybreak,  and,  not  caring  to  sleep, 
I  strolled  out,  when  my  good  fortune  threw  me  into  your 
way." 

"  Your  friends  are  likely  to  have  fine  weather,  and  I  am 
glad  of  it,"  said  Corrigan.  "This  country,  pretty  enough 
in  sunshine,  looks  bleak  and  dreary  when  the  sky  is  lower- 
ing; but  I  've  no  doubt  you'd  rather  have 

"  *  A  southerly  wind  and  a  cloudy  sky/ 

as  the  song  says,  than  the  brightest  morning  that  ever 
welcomed  a  lark.     Are  you  fond  of  hunting  ?  " 

"  I  like  every  kind  of  sport  where  horse,  or  gun,  or  hound 
can  enter;  but  I  've  seen  most  of  such  pastimes  in  distant 
countries,  where  the  game  is  different  from  here,  and  the 
character  of  the  people  just  as  unlike." 

"I  have  hunted  the  wild  boar  myself,"  said  old  Cor- 
rigan, proudly,  "in  the  royal  forests  at  Meudon  and 
Fontainebleau." 

"I  speak  of  the  antelope  and  the  jaguar,  the  dark  leopard 
of  Guiana,  or  the  brown  bison  of  the  Andes." 

"That  is  indeed  a  manly  pastime!  "  said  Mary, 
enthusiastically. 

"It  is  so,"  said  Cashel,  warmed  by  the  encouragement  of 
her  remark,  "more  even  for  the  endurance  and  persevering 
energy  it  demands  than  for  its  peril.  The  long  days  of 
toil  in  search  of  game,  the  nights  of  waking  watchfulness, 
and  then  the  strange  characters  and  adventures  among 
which  you  are  thrown,  all  make  up  a  kind  of  life  so  unlike 
the  daily  world." 

"There  is,  as  you  say,  something  highly  exciting  in  all 
that,"  said  Corrigan;  *'but,  to  my  thinking,  hunting  is  a 


382  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

royal  pastime,  and  loses  half  of  its  prestige  when  deprived 
of  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  its  courtly  following. 
When  I  think  of  the  old  forest  echoing  to  the  tantarara  of 
the  cor  de  chasse,  the  scarlet-clad  piqueurs  with  lance  and 
cutlass,  the  train  of  courtiers  mounted  on  their  high-mettled 
steeds,  displaying  all  the  address  of  the  salon^  and  all  the 
skill  of  the  chase,  to  him  who  was  the  centre  of  the  group, 
—  the  king  himself  —  " 

"Are  you  not  forgetting  the  fairest  part  of  the  pageant, 
papa  ?  "  broke  in  Mary. 

"No,  my  dear,  that  group  usually  waited  to  join  us  as 
we  returned.  Then,  when  the  '  Retour  de  la  Chasse  '  rang 
out  from  every  horn,  and  the  whole  wood  re-echoed  with  the 
triumphant  sounds,  then  might  be  seen  the  queen  and  her 
ladies  advancing  to  meet  us.  I  think  I  see  her  yet,  the 
fair-haired  queen,  the  noblest  and  most  beautiful  in  all  that 
lovely  circle,  mounted  on  her  spotted  Arabian,  who  bore 
himself  proudly  beneath  his  precious  burden.  Ah!  too 
truly  did  Burke  say,  '  the  Age  of  Chivalry  was  past,'  or 
never  had  such  sorrows  gone  unavenged.  Young  gentle- 
man, I  know  not  whether  you  have  already  conceived  strong 
opinions  upon  politics,  and  whether  you  incline  to  one  or 
other  of  the  great  parties  that  divide  the  kingdom,  but  one 
thing  I  would  beseech  you,  —  be  a  Monarchist.  There  is  a 
steadfast  perseverance  in  clinging  to  the  legitimate  Sover- 
eign. Like  the  very  observance  of  truth  itself,  shake  the 
conviction  once,  and  there  is  no  limit  to  scepticism." 

"Humph!"  muttered  Tiernay,  half  aloud.  "Considering 
how  royalty  treated  your  ancestors,  your  ardor  in  their 
favor  might  be  cooled  a  little." 

"What's  Tiernay  saying?"  said  the  old  man. 

"Grumbling,  as  usual,  papa,"  said  Mary,  laughing,  and 
not  willing  to  repeat  the  remark. 

"Trying  to  give  a  man  a  bias  in  politics,"  said  the 
doctor,  sarcastically,  "is  absurd,  except  you  accompany 
the  advice  with  a  place.  A  man's  political  opinions  are 
born  with  him,  and  he  has  as  much  to  do  with  the  choice 
of  his  own  Christian  name  as  whether  he  '11  be  a  Whig  or 
a  Tory." 

"Never  mind  him,  sir,"  said  Corrigan  to  Cashel;  "one 


ROLAND  HEARS  SOMETHING.  383 

might  travesty  the  well-known  epigram,  and  say  of  him 
that  he  never  said  a  kind  thing,  nor  did  a  rude  one,  in  his 
life." 

"The  greater  fool  he,  then,"  muttered  Tiernay,  "for  the 
world  likes  him  best  who  does  the  exact  opposite;  and  here 
comes  one  to  illustrate  my  theory.  There,  I  see  him 
yonder;  so  I'll  step  into  the  library  and  look  over  the 
newspaper." 

"He  cannot  endure  a  very  agreeable  neighbor  of  ours,  — 
a  Mr.  Linton,"  said  Corrigan,  as  the  doctor  retired,  — "and 
makes  so  little  secret  of  his  dislike  that  I  am  always  glad 
when  they  avoid  a  meeting." 

"Mr.  Linton  is  certainly  more  generous,"  said  Mary, 
"for  he  enjoys  the  doctor's  eccentricity  without  taking 
offence  at  his  rude  humor." 

"Good-breeding  can  be  almost  a  virtue,"  said  the  old 
man,  with  a  smile. 

"It  has  this  disadvantage,  however,"  said  Cashel:  "it 
deceives  men  who,  like  myself,  have  little  knowledge  of 
life,  to  expect  far  more  from  politeness  than  it  is  ever  meant 
to  imply,  —  just  as  on  the  Lima  shore,  when  we  carried  off 
a  gold  Madonna,  we  were  never  satisfied  if  we  missed  the 
diamond  eyes  of  the  image." 

The  old  man  and  his  granddaughter  almost  started  at  the 
strange  illustration;  but  their  attention  was  now  called  off 
by  the  approach  of  Linton,  whom  they  met  as  he  reached 
the  porch. 

"Come  here  a  moment,  sir,"  said  the  doctor,  addressing 
Cashel,  from  the  little  boudoir;  "here  are  some  weapons 
of  very  old  date  found  among  the  ruins  beside  where  we 
stand."  And  Roland  had  just  time  to  quit  the  breakfast- 
room  before  Linton  entered  it. 

"The  menagerie  fills  fast,"  said  Linton,  as  he  advanced 
gayly  into  the  apartment:  "some  of  our  principal  lions 
have  come;  more  are  expected;  and  all  the  small  cages 
have  got  their  occupants." 

"I  am  dying  of  curiosity,"  said  Mary.  "Tell  us  every- 
thing about  everybody.     Who  have  arrived  ?  " 

"  We  have  everything  of  a  household  save  the  host.  He 
is  absent;  and,  stranger  than  all,  no  one  knows  where." 


384  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

*'How  singular!  "  exclaimed  Corrigan. 

"Is  it  not?  He  arrived  this  morning  with  the  Kilgoflfs, 
and  has  not  since  been  heard  of.  I  left  his  amiable  guests 
at  the  breakfast-table  conversing  on  his  absence,  and 
endeavoring  to  account  for  it  under  every  variety  of  '  shock- 
ing accident '  one  reads  of  in  the  morning  papers.  The 
more  delicately  minded  were  even  discussing,  in  whispers, 
how  long  it  would  be  decent  to  stay  in  a  house  if  the 
owner  committed  suicide." 

"This  is  too  shocking,"  said  Mary. 

"And  yet  there  are  men  who  do  these  things!  Talley- 
rand it  was,  I  believe,  who  said  that  the  fellow  who  shot 
himself  showed  a  great  want  of  savoir  vivre.  Well,  to 
come  back :  we  have  the  Kilgoff s,  whom  I  have  not  seen  as 
yet;  the  Meeks,  father  and  daughter;  the  MacFarlines; 
Mrs.  White  and  her  familiar,  a  distinguished  author;  the 
whole  Kennyf eck  tribe ;  Frobisher ;  some  five  or  six  cavalry 
subalterns ;  and  a  large  mob  of  strange-looking  people,  of 
both  sexes,  making  up  what  in  racing  slang  is  called  the 
*  ruck  '  of  the  party." 

''Will  it  not  tax  your  ingenuity,  Mr.  Linton,  to  amuse, 
or  even  to  preserve  concord  among  such  a  heterogeneous 
multitude?  "  said  Mary. 

"I  shall  amuse  them  by  keeping  them  at  feud  with  each 
other,  and,  when  they  weary  of  that,  let  them  have  a  grand 
attack  of  the  whole  line  upon  their  worthy  host  and  enter- 
tainer. Indeed,  already  signs  of  rebellious  ingratitude  have 
displayed  themselves.  You  must  know  that  there  has  been 
a  kind  of  petty  scandal  going  about  respecting  Lady  Kilgoff 
and  Mr.  Cashel." 

"My  dear  sir,"  said  Mr.  Corrigan,  gravely,  but  with 
much  courtesy,  "when  my  granddaughter  asked  you  for  the 
latest  news  of  your  gay  household,  she  did  so  in  all  the 
inconsiderate  ignorance  her  habits  and  age  may  warrant; 
but  neither  she  nor  I  cared  to  hear  more  of  your  guests  than 
they  ought  to  have  reported  of  them,  or  should  be  repeated 
to  the  ears  of  a  young  lady." 

"I  accept  the  rebuke  with  less  pain,"  said  Linton,  smil- 
ing easily,  "because  it  is,  in  part  at  least,  unmerited.  If 
you  had  permitted  me  to  continue,  you  should  have  seen  as 


ROLAND   HEARS  SOMETPIING.  385 

much."  Then,  turning  to  Miss  Leicester,  he  added:  "You 
spoke  of  amusement,  and  you  '11  acknowledge  we  are  not 
idle.  Lord  Charles  Frobisher  is  already  marking  out  a 
race-course;  Meek  is  exploring  the  political  leaning  of  the 
borough;  the  Kenuyfecks  are  trying  their  voices  together 
in  every  room  of  the  house;  and  Lady  Janet  has  every 
casserole  in  the  kitchen  engaged  in  the  preparation  of 
various  vegetable  abominations  which  she  and  Sir  Andrew 
take  before  breakfast;  and  what  with  the  taking  down  and 
putting  up  of  beds,  the  tuning  of  pianofortes,  sol-fa-ing 
here,  bells  ringing  there,  cracking  of  tandem  whips,  firing 
off  percussion-caps,  screaming  to  grooms  out  of  window, 
and  slamming  of  doors.  Babel  was  a  scene  of  peaceful 
retirement  in  comparison.  As  this,  too,  is  but  the  begin- 
ning, pray  forgive  me  if  my  visits  here  be  more  frequent 
and  enduring  than  ever.'* 

"Your  picture  of  the  company  is  certainly  not  flattering," 
said  Mary. 

"Up  to  their  merits,  notwithstanding;  but  how  could  it 
be  otherwise?  To  make  a  house  pleasant,  to  bring  agree- 
able people  together,  —  to  assemble  those  particles  whose 
aggregate  solidifies  into  that  compact  mass  called  society,  — 
is  far  harder  than  is  generally  believed;  vulgar  folk  attempt 
it  by  getting  some  celebrity  to  visit  them.  But  what  a 
failure  that  is!  One  lion  will  no  more  make  a  party  than 
one  swallow  a  summer.  New  people,  like  our  friend  Cashel, 
try  it  by  asking  everybody.  They  hope,  by  firing  a  heavy 
charge,  that  some  of  the  shot  will  hit.  Another  mistake! 
He  little  knows  how  many  jealousies,  rivalries,  and  small 
animosities  are  now  at  breakfast  together  at  his  house,  and 
how  ready  they  are,  when  no  other  game  offers,  to  make 
him  the  object  of  all  their  spite  and  scandal." 

"But  why?"  said  Mary.  "Is  not  his  hospitality  as 
princely  as  it  is  generously  offered?  Can  they  cavil  with 
anything  in  either  the  reception  itself  or  the  manner  of  it?" 

"As  that  part  of  the  entertainment  entered  into  my  func- 
tions. Miss  Leicester,  I  should  say,  certainly  not.  The 
whole  has  been  well  '  got  up. '  I  can  answer  for  everything 
save  Cashel  himself ;  as  Curran  said,  *  I  can  elevate  all 
save  the   host. '      He   is   irreclaimably  en   arriere,  —  haU 

VOL.  I.--25  , 


386  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

dandy,  half  Delaware,  affecting  the  man  of  fashion,  but, 
at  heart,  a  prairie  hunter." 

"Hold,  sir!"  cried  Cashel,  entering  suddenly,  his  face 
crimson  with  passion.  "By  what  right  do  you  presume 
to  speak  of  me  in  this  wise?" 

"Ha!  ha!  ha! "  broke  out  Linton,  as  he  fell  into  a  chair 
in  a  burst  of  admirably  feigned  laughter.  "I  told  you. 
Miss  Leicester,  how  it  would  be;  did  I  not  say  I  should 
unearth  the  fox  ?  Ah !  Roland,  confess  it ;  you  were  com- 
pletely taken  in." 

Cashel  stared  around  for  an  explanation,  and  in  the 
astonishment  of  each  countenance  he  fancied  he  read  a  con- 
demnation of  his  conduct.  All  his  impulses  were  quick 
as  thought,  and  so  he  blushed  deeply  for  his  passionate 
outbreak,  as  he  said,  — 

"I  ask  pardon  of  you,  sir,  and  this  lady  for  my  unseemly 
anger.  This  gentleman  certainly  deserves  no  apology  from 
me.  Confound  it.  Master  Tom,  but  assuredly  you  don't 
fire  blank  cartridge  to  startle  your  game." 

"No  use  to  tickle  lions  with  straws,"  said  Linton;  and 
the  insinuated  flattery  succeeded. 

"Let  me  now  bid  you  welcome  to  my  cottage,  Mr. 
Cashel,"  said  Corrigan;  "although  this  incognito  visit  was 
an  accident,  I  feel  happy  to  see  you  here." 

"Thank  you,  thank  you,"  replied  Cashel.  "I  shall  be 
even  more  grateful  still  if  you  permit  me  to  join  in  Lin- 
ton's petition,  and  occasionally  escape  from  the  noisy 
festivities  of  the  Hall,  and  come  here." 

While  Corrigan  and  Cashel  continued  to  interchange 
mutual  assurances  of  esteem  and  regard,  Linton  walked  to 
a  window  with  Miss  Leicester. 

"We  had  no  conception  that  our  guest  was  Mr.  Cashel,'* 
said  Mary;  "he  met  Dr.  Tiernay  accidentally  in  the  park, 
and  came  along  with  him  to  breakfast." 

"And  did  not  the  doctor  remember  him?"  said  Linton, 
shrewdly. 

"  Oh,  no ;  he  may  probably  recollect  something  of  having 
met  him  before,  three  weeks  hence,  but  he  is  so  absent !  " 

"I  thought  Roland  would  have  taken  the  quizzing 
better,"  said  Linton,  thoughtfully.     "There  's  no  knowing 


ROLAND  HEARS  SOMETHING.         387 

any  man,  or  —  woman  either.  You  perceived  what  I  was 
at,  certainly." 

"No,  indeed.  I  was  as  much  deceived  as  Mr.  Cashel. 
I  thought,  to  be  sure,  that  you  were  unusually  severe,  but  I 
never  suspected  the  object." 

"How  droll!  Well,  I  am  a  better  actor  than  I  fancied," 
said  Linton,  laughing;  then  added,  in  a  lower  tone,  "Not 
that  the  lesson  should  be  lost  upon  him;  for,  in  sober 
earnest,  there  was  much  truth  in  it." 

"We  were  greatly  pleased  with  him,"  said  Mary,  "and 
now,  knowing  who  he  is,  and  what  temptations  such  a 
young  man  has  to  over-estimate  himself,  are  even  more 
struck  by  his  unassuming  quietude." 

Linton  only  smiled,  but  it  was  a  smile  of  most  compas- 
sionate pity. 

"I  conclude  that  you  mean  to  show  yourself  to  your 
company,  then,  Mr.  Cashel  ?  "  said  he,  turning  suddenly 
about. 

"I'm  ready,"  said  Roland.  "I'd  go,  however,  with  an 
easier  conscience  if  Mr.  Corrigan  would  only  promise  me 
to  come  and  see  us  there  sometimes." 

"I'm  a  very  old  fellow,  Mr.  Cashel,  and  have  almost 
outlived  the  habits  of  society;  but  if  any  one's  invitation 
shall  bring  me  beyond  these  walls,  it  shall  be  yours." 

"I  must  be  content  with  that,"  said  Roland,  as  he  shook 
the  proffered  hand;  and  then,  with  a  cordial  farewell  to 
Miss  Leicester,  took  Linton's  arm,  and  retired. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

MISS   JEMIMA   MEEK. 

If  you  show  him  in  Hyde  Park  —  Lauk  !  how  they  will  stare ! 
Though  a  very  smart  figure  in  Bloomsbury  Square. 

The  Snob. 

Cashel  s  was  not  a  nature  to  dwell  upon  a  grievance,  and  he 
would  have,  at  once  and  forever,  forgotten  the  late  scene 
with  Linton  if  it  were  not  coupled  in  his  mind  with  suspi- 
cions derived  from  various  different  sources.  This  made 
him  silent  and  reserved  as  he  walked  along,  and  so  palpably 
inattentive  to  all  his  companion's  efforts  at  agreeability 
that  Linton  at  last  said,  "Well,  Cashel,  if  you  can  dispense 
with  sleep,  you  certainly  seem  to  take  the  compensation  in 
dreaming.  Here  have  I  been  retailing  for  you  the  choicest 
bits  of  gossip  and  small-talk,  not  only  without  the  slightest 
gratitude,  but  even  without  common  attention  on  your 
part!" 

"Very  true,"  said  Cashel;  "the  reproach  is  quite  just, 
and  no  man  can  be  more  agreeable  at  the  expense  of  his 
friends  than  yourself." 

"Still  harping  on  my  daughter,  eh?"  cried  Linton.  "I 
never  thought  you  the  man  to  misconstrue  a  jest;  but  if  you 
really  are  offended  with  my  folly  —  " 

"If  I  really  were  offended,"  said  Cashel,  almost  sternly, 
"I  should  not  leave  it  to  be  inferred  from  my  manner." 

"That  I  am  sure  of,"  cried  Linton,  assuming  an  air 
of  frankness;  "and  now,  since  all  that  silly  affair  is 
forgotten  —  " 

"I  did  not  say  so  much,"  interrupted  Cashel.  "I  cannot 
forget  it;  and  that  is  the  very  reason  I  am  annoyed  with 
myself,  with  you,  and  with  all  the  world." 


MISS  JEMIMA  MEEK.  389 

"Pooh!  nonsense,  man;  you  were  not  used  to  be  so 
thin-skinned.  Let  us  talk  of  something  else.  Here  are 
all  our  gay  friends  assembled :  how  are  we  to  occupy  and 
amuse  them  ?  " 

Cashel  made  no  reply,  but  walked  on,  seemingly  lost  in 
thought, 

"By  the  way,"  said  Linton,  "you  've  told  me  nothing  of 
your  adventures.  Have  n't  you  had  something  very  like 
a  shipwreck?" 

"The  yacht  is  lost,"  said  Cashel,  dryly. 

"Actually  lost!"  echoed  the  other,  with  well-assumed 
astonishment.  "How  fortunate  not  to  have  had  the  Kenny- 
feck  party  on  board,  as  I  believe  you  expected." 

"I  had  the  Kilgoffs,  however,"  rejoined  Roland. 

"The  Kilgoffs!  you  amaze  me.  How  did  my  Lord  ever 
consent  to  trust  his  most  precious  self  on  such  an 
enterprise  ?  " 

Cashel  shrugged  his  shoulders,  without  uttering  a  word  in 
reply. 

"But  come,  do  condescend  to  be  a  little  more  commu- 
nicative. How,  and  when,  and  where  did  the  mishap 
occur  ?  " 

"She  foundered  on  the  southern  coast  some  time  after 
midnight  on  the  15th.  The  crew  and  passengers  escaped 
by  the  boats,  and  the  craft  went  to  pieces." 

"And  the  Kilgoffs,  how  did  they  behave  in  the  moment 
of  peril?" 

"  My  Lord  seemed  insensible  to  all  around ;  Lady  Kilgoff 
with  a  dignified  courage  quite  admirable." 

"Indeed!"  said  Linton,  slowly,  while  he  fixed  his  eyes 
on  Cashel' s  face,  where  an  expression  of  increased  anima- 
tion now  displayed  itself. 

"She  has  a  fine  generous  nature,"  continued  Cashel,  not 
heeding  the  remark.  "It  is  one  of  the  saddest  things  to 
think  of,  how  she  has  been  mated." 

"She  is  a  peeress,"  said  Linton,  curtly. 

"And  what  of  that?  Do  your  aristocratic  distinctions 
close  the  heart  against  every  high  and  noble  sentiment,  or 
can  they  compensate  for  the  absence  of  every  tie  that 
attaches   one   to  life?     Is  not  some  poor  Indian  girl  who 


390  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

follows  her  wild  ranchero  husband  through  the  dark  valleys 
of  Guiana,  not  only  a  happier,  but  a  better  wife  than  your 
proud  peeress  ?  " 

Linton  shook  his  head  and  smiled,  but  did  not  reply. 

"I  see  how  my  old  prejudices  shock  you,"  said  Cashel. 
"  I  only  grieve  to  think  how  many  of  them  have  left  me ; 
for  I  am  sick  —  sick  at  heart  —  of  your  gay  and  polished 
world.  I  am  weary  of  its  double-dealing,  and  tired  of  its 
gilded  falsehood.  Since  I  have  been  a  rich  man,  I  have 
seen  nothing  but  the  servile  flattery  of  sycophancy,  or  the 
insidious  snares  of  deeper  iniquity.  There  is  no  equality  for 
one  like  myself.  The  high-born  wealthy  would  treat  me  as 
a  parvenu^  the  vulgar  rich  only  reflect  back  my  own  errors 
in  broader  deformity.  I  have  known  no  other  use  of 
wealth  than  to  squander  it  to  please  others ;  I  have  played 
high,  and  lost  deeply;  I  have  purchased  a  hundred  things 
simply  because  some  others  wished  to  sell  them;  I  have 
entertained  and  sat  among  my  company,  waiting  to  catch 
and  resent  the  covert  insult  that  men  pass  upon  such  as  me ; 
and  will  you  tell  me  —  you,  who  know  the  world  well  —  that 
such  a  life  repays  one?  " 

'^Now,  let  me  write  the  credit  side  of  the  account,"  said 
Linton,  laughing,  and  affecting  a  manner  of  easy  jocularity. 
"You  are  young,  healthy,  and  high-spirited,  with  courage 
for  anything,  and  more  money  than  even  recklessness  can 
get  rid  of ;  you  are  the  most  popular  fellow  among  men,  and 
the  greatest  favorite  of  the  other  sex,  going ;  you  get  credit 
for  everything  you  do,  and  a  hundred  others  that  men  know 
you  could,  but  have  not  done;  you  have  warm,  attached 
friends,  —  I  can  answer  for  one,  at  least,  who  *11  lay  down 
his  life  for  you."  He  paused,  expecting  some  recognition, 
but  Cashel  made  no  sign,  and  he  resumed:  ''You  have  onh' 
to  propose  some  object  to  your  ambition,  whether  it  be  rank, 
place,  or  a  high  alliance,  to  feel  that  you  are  a  favorite  with 
fortune." 

"  And  is  it  by  knowing  beforehand  that  one  is  sure  to  win 
that  gambling  fascinates  ?  "  said  Roland,  slowly. 

''If  you  only  knew  how  the  dark  presage  of  failure  deters 
the  unlucky  man,  you  'd  scarce  ask  the  question! "  rejoined 
Linton,  with  an  accent  of  sorrow,  by  which  he  hoped  to 


MISS  JEMIMA   MEEK.  391 

awaken  sympathy.     The  stroke  failed,  however,  for  Cashel 
took  no  notice  of  it. 

"There  goes  one  whose  philosophy  of  life  is  simple 
enough,"  said  LintoD,  as  he  stopped  at  a  break  in  the  holly 
hedge,  beside  which  they  were  walking,  and  pointed  to  Lord 
Charles,  who,  mounted  on  a  blood-horse,  was  leading  the 
way  for  a  lady,  equally  well  carried,  over  some  sporting- 
looking  fences. 

"I  say,  Jim,"  cried  Frobisher,  "let  her  go  a  little  free  at 
them;  she  's  always  too  hot  when  you  hold  her  back." 

"You  don't  know,  perhaps,  that  Jim  is  the  lady,"  whis- 
pered Linton,  and  withdrawing  for  secrecy  behind  the  cover 
of  the  hedge.  "Jim,"  continued  Linton,  "is  the  familiar  for 
Jemima.     She  's  Meek's  daughter,  and  the  wildest  romp  —  " 

"By  Jove!  how  well  she  cleared  it.  Here  she  comes  back 
again,"  cried  Cashel,  in  all  the  excitement  of  a  favorite 
sport. 

'That 's  all  very  pretty,  Jim,"  called  out  Frobisher,  "but 
let  me  observe  it 's  a  very  Brummagem  style  of  thing,  after 
all.  I  want  you  to  ride  up  to  your  fence  with  your  mare  in 
hand,  touch  her  lightly  on  the  flank,  and  pop  her  over 
quietly." 

"She  is  too  fiery  for  all  that,"  said  the  girl,  as  she  held 
in  the  mettlesome  animal,  and  endeavored  to  calm  her  by 
patting  her  neck. 

"How  gracefully  she  sits  her  saddle,"  muttered  Cashel; 
and  the  praise  might  have  been  forgiven  from  even  a  less 
ardent  admirer  of  equestrianism,  for  she  was  a  young, 
fresh-looking  girl,  with  large  hazel  eyes,  and  a  profusion 
of  bright  auburn  hair  which  floated  and  flaunted  in  every 
graceful  wave  around  her  neck  and  shoulders.  She  pos- 
sessed, besides,  that  inestimable  advantage  as  a  rider  which 
perfect  fearlessness  supplies,  and  seemed  to  be  inspired 
with  every  eager  impulse  of  the  bounding  animal  beneath 
her. 

As  Cashel  continued  to  look,  she  had  taken  the  mare  a 
canter  round  a  large  grass  field,  and  was  evidently  endeav- 
oring, by  a  light  hand  and  a  soothing,  caressing  voice,  to 
calm  down  her  temper;  stooping,  as  she  went,  in  the 
saddle  to  pat  the  animal's  shoulder,  and  almost  bending  her 
own  auburn  curls  to  the  counter. 


392  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

'•  She  is  perfect !  "  cried  Roland,  in  a  very  ecstasy.  "  See 
that,  Linton !     Mark  how  she  sways  herself  in  her  saddle !  " 

"That  comes  of  wearing  no  stays,"  said  Linton,  dryly, 
as  he  proceeded  to  light  a  cigar. 

"-Now  she's  at  it.  Here  she  comes!"  cried  Cashel, 
almost  breathless  with  anxiety;  for  the  mare,  chafed  by 
the  delay,  no  sooner  was  turned  towards  the  fence  once 
more,  than  she  stretched  out  and  dashed  wildly  at  it. 

It  was  a  moment  of  intense  interest,  for  the  speed  was 
far  too  great  to  clear  a  high  leap  with  safety ;  the  fear  was, 
however,  but  momentary,  for,  with  a  tremendous  bound, 
the  mare  cleared  the  fence,  and,  after  a  couple  of  minutes' 
cantering,  stood  with  heaving  flanks  and  swelling  nostril 
beside  the  other  horse. 

"You  see  my  misfortune,  I  suppose?"  said  the  girl, 
addressing  Frobisher. 

"No.  She's  not  cut  about  the  legs?"  said  he,  as  he 
bent  down  in  his  saddle  and  took  a  most  searching  survey 
of  the  animal. 

"No,  the  hack  is  all  right.  But  don't  you  perceive  that 
bit  of  blue  cloth  flaunting  yonder  on  the  hedge  ?  —  that  is 
part  of  my  habit.  See  what  a  tremendous  rent  is  here ;  I 
declare,  Charley,  it  is  scarcely  decent."  And  to  illustrate 
the  remark,  she  wheeled  her  horse  round  so  as  to  show  the 
fringed  and  jagged  end  of  her  riding-habit,  beneath  which 
a  very  finely  turned  ankle  and  foot  were  now  seen. 

"Then  why  don't  you  wear  trousers,  like  everybody 
else?"  said  Frobisher,  gruffly,  and  scarce  bestowing  even 
a  passing  glance  at  the  well-arched  instep. 

"Because  I  never  get  time  to  dress  like  any  one  else. 
You  order  me  out  like  one  of  your  Newmarket  boys," 
replied  she,  pettishly. 

"By  Jove!  I  wish  any  one  of  them  had  got  your  hand." 

"To  say  nothing  of  the  foot,  Charley,"  said  she, 
roguishly,  and  endeavoring  to  arrange  her  torn  drapery  to 
the  best  advantage. 

"No;  that  may  do  to  astonish  our  friend  Cashel,  and 
make  *  my  lady  '  jealous.  By  the  way,  Jim,  I  don't  see 
why  you  should  n't  '  enter  for  the  plate  '  as  well  as  the 
Kenny  feck  girls." 


MISS  JEMIMA  MEEK.  893 

"1  like  you  better,  Charley,"  said  she,  curveting  her  horse, 
and  passaging  him  alternately  from  side  to  side. 

*'This  is  the  second  time  to-day  I  have  played  the  eaves- 
dropper unconsciously,"  said  Roland,  in  a  whisper,  ^'and 
with  the  proverbial  fortune  of  the  listener  in  both  cases." 
And  with  these  words  he  moved  on,  leaving  Linton  still 
standing  opposite  the  opening  of  the  hedge. 

Cashel  had  not  advanced  many  paces  beneath  the  shelter 
of  the  tall  hollies,  when  Frobisher  accidentally  caught  sight 
of  Linton,  and  called  out,  "Ha,  Tom,  —  found  you  at  last! 
Where  have  you  been  hiding  the  whole  morning  ?  —  you  that 
should,  at  least,  represent  our  host  here." 

Linton  muttered  something,  while,  by  a  gesture,  he 
endeavored  to  caution  Frobisher,  and  apprise  him  of 
Cashel' s  vicinity.  The  fretful  motion  of  his  horse,  how- 
ever, prevented  his  seeing  the  signal,  and  he  resumed,  — 

"One  of  my  people  tells  me  that  Cashel  came  with  the 
Kilgoffs  this  morning.  I  say,  Tom,  you  '11  have  to  look 
sharp  in  that  quarter.  Soh,  there  —  quiet,  Gustave  — 
gently,  man !  " 

"He  's  too  fat,  I  think.  You  always  have  your  cattle 
too  heavy,"  said  Linton,  hoping  to  change  the  topic. 

"He  carries  flesh  well.  But  what  is  it  I  had  to  tell  you? 
Oh,  I  remember  now,  —  about  the  yacht  club.  I  have  just 
got  a  letter  from  Derwent,  in  which  he  says  the  thing  is 
impossible.  His  remark  is  more  true  than  courteous.  He 
says,  '  It 's  all  very  well  in  such  a  place  as  Ireland  to  know 
such  people,  but  that  it  won't  do  in  England;  besides  that, 
if  Cashel  does  wish  to  get  among  men  of  the  world,  he 
ought  to  join  some  light  cavalry  corps  for  a  year  or  so, 
and  stand  plucking  by  Stanhope,  and  Dashfield,  and  the 
rest  of  them.  They  '11  bring  him  out  if  he  '11  only  pay  hand- 
somely.' —  Soh,  there,  man,  —  do  be  quiet,  will  you?  —  The 
end  of  it  is,  that  Derwent  will  not  put  his  name  up.  I 
must  say  it's  a  disappointment  to  me;  but,  as  a  younger 
brother,  I  have  only  to  smile  and  submit." 

While  Lord  Charles  was  retailing  this  piece  of  informa- 
tion in  no  very  measured  tone,  and  only  interrupted  by  the 
occasional  impatience  of  his  horse,  Linton's  eyes  were 
fixed   on   Cashel,  who,    at   the   first   mention   of   his   own 


394  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

name,  increased  his  speed,  so  as  to  suggest  the  fond  hope 
that  some,  at  least,  of  this  unwelcome  intelligence  might 
have  escaped  him. 

"You'll  have  to  break  the  thing  to  him,  Tom,"  resumed 
Lord  Charles.  "You  know  him  better  than  any  of  us,  and 
how  the  matter  can  be  best  touched  upon." 

"Not  the  slightest  necessity  for  that,  now^'*  said  Linton, 
with  a  low,  deliberate  voice. 

"Why  so?" 

"Because  you  have  just  done  so  yourself.  If  you  had 
only  paid  the  least  attention  to  my  signal,  you  'd  have  seen 
that  Cashel  was  only  a  few  yards  in  front  of  me  during  the 
entire  of  your  agreeable  revelations." 

"By  Jove!"  exclaimed  Frobisher,  as  his  head  dropped 
forward  in  overwhelming  confusion;  "what  is  to  be  done?  " 

"Rather  difficult  to  say,  if  he  heard  all,"  said  Linton, 
coolly. 

"You  'd  say  it  was  a  quiz,  Tom.  You  'd  pretend  that 
you  saw  him  all  the  while,  and  only  did  the  thing  for  joke's 
sake,  eh?" 

"Possibly  enough  1  might,"  replied  Linton;  "but  you 
couldn't." 

"How  very  awkward,  to  be  sure!  "  exclaimed  Frobisher. 
"I  say,  Jim,  I  wish  you  'd  make  up  to  Cashel  a  bit,  and 
get  us  out  of  this  scrape.  There  's  Tom  ready  to  aid  and 
abet  you,  if  only  to  take  him  out  of  the  Kilgoffs'  way." 

"There  never  was  a  more  propitious  moment,  Miss  Meek," 
said  Linton,  passing  through  the  hedge,  and  approaching 
close  to  her.  "He's  a  great  prize, — the  best  estate  in 
Ireland." 

"The  nicest  stable  of  horses  in  the  whole  country," 
echoed  Frobisher. 

"A  good-looking  fellow,  too;  only  wanting  a  little  train- 
ing to  make  presentable  anywhere." 

"That  white  barb,  with  the  flea-bitten  flank,  would  carry 
you  to  perfection,  Jim." 

"He  '11  be  a  peer  one  of  these  days,  if  he  is  only  patient 
enough  not  to  commit  himself  in  politics." 

"And  such  a  hunting  country  for  you^'*  said  Frobisher,  in 
ecstasy. 


MISS  JEMIMA   MEEK.  395 

"I  tell  you  I  don't  care  for  biin;  I  never  did,"  said  the 
girl,  as  a  flush  of  half-angry  meaning  colored  her  almost 
childish  features. 

''But  don't  you  care  to  be  mistress  of  fifteen  thousand  a 
year,  and  the  finest  stud  in  Ireland  ?  " 

"Mayhap  a  countess,"  said  Linton,  quietly.  "Youi*  papa 
would  soon  manage  that." 

"I  'd  rather  be  mistress  of  myself,  and  this  brown  mare, 
Joan,  here, — that's  all  I  know;  and  I'll  have  nothing 
to  do  with  any  of  your  plots  and  schemes,"  said  she,  in  a 
voice  whose  utterance  was  that  of  emotion. 

"That's  it,"  said  Frobisher,  in  a  low  tone  to  Linton; 
"there  's  no  getting  them,  at  that  age,  with  a  particle  of 
brains." 

"They  make  up  surprisingly  for  it  afterwards,"  replied 
Linton,  dryly. 

"So  you'll  not  consent,  Jim?"  said  Frobisher,  in  a  half- 
coaxing  manner  to  the  young  girl,  who,  with  averted  head, 
sat  in  mingled  sorrow  and  displeasure.  "Well,  don't  be 
pettish  about  it;  I  'm  sure  I  thought  it  very  generous  in  me, 
considering  —  " 

She  looked  round  at  this  moment,  and  her  large  eyes  were 
bent  upon  him  with  a  look  which  their  very  tears  made 
passionately  meaning. 

"Considering  what  a  neat  finger  you  have  on  a  young 
horse,"  said  he.  And  she  turned  abruptly  away,  and,  as 
if  to  hide  her  emotion,  spurred  her  mare  into  a  bounding 
canter. 

"Take  care,  Charley,  take  care  what  you  're  doing," 
said  Linton,  with  a  look  of  consummate  shrewdness. 

Frobisher  looked  after  her  for  a  minute  or  two,  and 
then  seemed  to  drop  into  a  revery,  for  he  made  no  reply 
whatever. 

"Let  the  matter  stop  where  it  is,"  said  Linton,  quietly, 
as  if  replying  to  some  acknowledgment  of  the  other;  "let  it 
stop  there,  I  say,  and  one  of  these  days,  when  she  marries, 
—  as  she  unquestionably  will  do,  through  papa  Downie's 
means, —  somebody  of  influence,  she  '11  be  a  steadfast,  warm 
friend,  never  forgetting,  nor  ever  wishing  to  forget,  her 
childhood's  companion.     Go  a  little  further,  however,  and 


396  ROLAND  CASHEL. 

you  '11  just  have  an  equally  determined  enemy.  I  know  a 
little  of  both  sides  of  the  question,"  added  he,  meditatively, 
"and  it  needs  slight  reflection  which  to  prefer." 

"How  are  you  going  to  amuse  us  here,  Mr.  Linton?  "  said 
she,  cantering  up  at  this  moment;  "for  it  seems  to  r/ie,  as 
old  Lord  Kilgofif  says,  that  we  are  like  to  have  a  very  dull 
house.  People  are  ordering  dinner  for  their  own  small 
parties  as  unsocially  as  though  they  were  at  the  Crown  Inn, 
at  Brighton." 

"Yes,  by  the  by,"  said  Frobisher,  "I  want  to  ask  you 
about  that.  Don't  you  think  it  were  better  to  dash  a  little 
bit  of  '  communism  '  through  your  administration?  " 

"I  intend  to  send  in  my  resignation  as  premier,  now 
that  the  head  of  the  State  has  arrived,"  said  Linton,  smiling 
dubiously. 

"I  perceive,"  said  Frobisher,  shrewdly,  "you  expect  that 
the  Government  will  go  to  pieces,  if  you  leave  it." 

"The  truth  is,  Charley,"  said  he,  dropping  his  voice  to  a 
low  whisper,  and  leaning  his  hand  on  the  horse's  mane, 
"our  friend  Roland  is  rather  too  far  in  the  category 
*  savage  '  for  long  endurance ;  he  grows  capricious  and  self- 
opinionated.  The  thin  plating  comes  off,  and  shows  the 
buccaneer  at  every  slight  abrasion." 

"What  of  that?"  said  FrobisUer,  languidly;  "his  book 
on  Coutts'  is  unexceptionable.  Come,  Tom,  you  are  the 
only  man  here  who  has  a  head  for  these  things.  Do  exert 
yourself  and  set  something  a-going." 

"Well,  what  shall  it  be?"  said  he,  gayly.  "Shall  we 
get  the  country  people  together,  and  have  hack  races  ?  Shall 
we  assemble  the  squires,  and  have  a  ball?  Shall  we  start 
private  theatricals  ?     What  says  Miss  Meek  ?  " 

"I  vote  for  all  three.  Pray  do,  Mr.  Linton,  — you,  who 
are  so  clever,  and  can  do  everything,  —  make  us  gay.  If  we 
only  go  on  as  we  have  begun,  the  house  will  be  like  a  model 
prison,  — on  the  separate  and  silent  system." 

"As  you  wish  it,"  said  Linton,  bowing  with  assumed 
gallantry;  *'and  now  to  work  at  once."  So  saying,  he 
turned  towjsirds  the  house,  the  others  riding  at  either  side 
ol  Mm. 


MISS  JEMIMA  MEEK.  397 

"What  shall  we  do  about  Derwent's  letter,  Tom?  "  asked 
Froblsher. 

"Never  speak  of  it;  the  chances  are  that  he  has  heard 
enough  to  satisfy  the  most  gluttonous  curiosity.  Besides, 
he  has  lost  his  yacht."  Here  he  dropped  his  voice  to  a 
low  muttering,  as  he  said,  "  And  may  soon  have  a  heavier 
loss!" 

"Is  his  pace  too  fast?  "  said  Frobisher,  who  caught  up  the 
meaning,  although  not  the  words. 

Linton  made  no  reply,  for  his  thoughts  were  on  another 
track;  then,  suddenly  catching  himself,  he  said,  "Come, 
and  let  us  have  a  look  at  the  stables ;  I  've  not  seen  our 
stud  yet.'*  And  they  turned  off  from  the  main  approach 
and  entered  the  wood  once  more. 


END  OF  VOL.   I. 


Return  this  book  on  or  before  the 
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SEP  1 


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^^•ik^ 


